Dub Trio – The New Heavy

Hard Rock Inna Dub

Dub Trio consists of individuals with a session résumé featuring a who’s who of prominent artists in the new millennium from Common and Mos Def to No Doubt and G-Unit. From this work comes The New Heavy, a mostly-instrumental mash-up of dub reggae and hard rock that recalls the seminal early work of Bad Brains. The difference here is less hardcore and more reggae. However, the vibe is more go-with-the-flow than musical academics.For those unfamiliar with dub, it’s a mostly-instrumental style of reggae heavy on the bass and near-psychedelic effects. Dub practitioners often take songs and version (i.e. remix) them by looping different snippets over the same beat, turning up the bass, and throwing some trippy drum and tape effects into the mix.

This eleven-song mixture of dub and hard rock certainly captures the essence of both styles without adding to them. An awesome surprise comes in the form of a stellar vocal performance by Mike Patton on “Not Alone.” From there, listeners are treated to an assault of heavy reggae-rock in songs like “Table Rock Dub,” “Angle Of Acceptance,” and “Jack Bauer” performed by reggae fans in love with the style rather than experts trying to expand it. This is where the replay value resides and each track will scream to be heard repeatedly.

Dub Trio’s latest album, The New Heavy is an almost effortlessly feel good album. Without breaking ground, these musicians have definitely captured the best of both worlds in dub reggae and hard rock. One won’t have to know either genre completely to appreciate this incisively executed set, but should be willing to listen.