Greg Puciato - Child Soldier: Creator Of God (Singles) - Review
REVIEW BY: MATT NEW
Solo releases by our favourite artists have the power to further deepen that unconditional love or take us on a journey into new and unfamiliar territory. But there is no disputing that having ultimate artistic freedom is a liberty most musicians dream of. For Greg Puciato of Dillinger Escape Plan/The Black Queen/ Killer Be Killed, this is a canvas to bare his soul with complete autonomy.
Greg has been very busy throughout 2020, and is set to release his debut solo record entitled “Child Soldier: Creator of God”. A 15 track album that navigates his most intimate musical influences fused in a melting pot of chaos. Greg states “I’ve thought a lot about this, because I sometimes feel guilty that I don’t have a definitive purpose for making music,” he explains. “When you’re in a band like Rage Against The Machine, you have so much purpose. Or if you’re a person who’s really depressed who makes really depressing music to cope with it, that makes a lot of sense. But I don’t have a brand. I’m not trying to be any one thing over and over again, just myself.”
As a lifelong DEP fan it has been a pleasure to get a sneak peak of the singles that will be released for this album. Understanding the nature of Greg’s prior work, you know you are in for one wild, noise fuelled, hypnotic ride that will make most very uncomfortable. With true fans begging for more.
“Fire For Water” is the first of four singles we have had the pleasure to review. It starts with a blistering industrial drum groove akin to Nine Inch Nails “With Teeth” era. The track evolves through a haunting vocal melody and harmony that would make Layne Staley and Jerry Cantrell proud, before we descend into the trademark Puciato scream and mayhem.
“Deep Set” fuses an eclectic stylistic mix of influence and acts as a calm, groove laden refresher to the sonic wall that was “Fire For Water”. A track that conjures up a deliberate need to choreograph devil horns, bang your head in unison to the rhythms, and orchestrate an anthemic sing along chant of “Your Deep Set Eyes” at the top of your lungs. I know I did.
The highlight of the four tracks on review is “Do You Need Me to Remind You”. A seven minute masterpiece that weaves beyond the realms of industrial doom, grunge and alternative metal. This track bares a lot of Greg’s soul in terms of his vocal influences. Elements of Ozzy Osbourne, Mike Patton and Trent Reznor shine through with some cleverly catchy and well crafted melody writing. This song shows some amazing musicianship. After all, he has performed everything on this record with the exception of drums.
Finally “Roach Hiss” shows a very complicated side to Greg’s song writing ability. Progressively inter-winding chaotic guitar riffs coupled with Mike Patton esque over the top vocal screams to an unassuming 11/8 drum motif. Amidst the force this track possesses, Greg still manages to find a balance between the crazy and the beautiful so amazingly well.
This album is shaping up to be one of the most interesting releases of 2020. Pushing beyond the math-metal and industrial realms we know Greg Puciato for, an avant garde yet slightly progressive side has emerged. Some great drum performances on this record too by the likes of Chris Hornbrook of Poison The Well, former DEP drummer Chris Pennie and his Killer Be Killed bandmate (and Converge drummer) Ben Koller.
Child Soldier: Creator of God is out October 23rd.
Australian exclusive pre-orders here:
