Domeshots CD

Live Recording

Domeshots: Danner (vocals); Jim Seishas (guitar); Eric Tamo (bass guitar); Mike Reed (drums).
Personnel: Mike Reed (drums); Dave Criss (percussion).
Audio Mixer: Johnny Genius.
Inevitably, any genre of music -- be it rock, R&B, rap, jazz, reggae, country, or salsa -- will have its leaders (who are the minority) as well as its followers (who are the majority). It's unrealistic to expect every artist who comes along to be a leader or an innovator; the artists who were honest-to-God innovators (Jimi Hendrix, Charlie Parker, Run-D.M.C., Bing Crosby, Kraftwerk) were the exception instead of the rule. But if you're going to be a follower rather than a leader, that's fine -- at least be good at what you do, and Domeshots' self-titled debut album underscores the fact that they are good at what they do. Not earth-shattering or exceptional, but good. The Bay Area residents' specialty is a forceful and jerky yet relatively melodic style of alternative metal/alternative rock that draws on influences ranging from Faith No More and Anthrax to Nirvana to System of a Down (without being as heavy as the blistering System). Anyone who has been closely following alternative rock and alternative metal for a long time won't find tunes like "Mother Snake," "Portland," and "Broken Glasses" to be groundbreaking -- certainly not by 2000s standards. Bands that sounded like Domeshots in 1989 or 1990 -- a time when Poison, Winger, and Bon Jovi were still burning up MTV -- really stood out because their overtly punk-minded, rap-influenced approach went against the grain in the hard rock/metal field. However, times have changed -- and these days, it comes as no surprise when a headbanger owes something to Black Flag or Ice-T. But what this 2004 release lacks in originality, it makes up for with passion, enthusiasm, and generally decent writing. While this CD is mildly uneven, the disc's best tracks and Domeshots' overall energy make their first album worth the price of admission. ~ Alex Henderson