Eclectic and experimental hard rock

Rock veterans Dog Fashion Disco are back with their fourth album since their reunion in 2013. Experiments In Embryos is an eclectic album filled with songs of varying styles and sounds. This is an album of remake songs that combines the 1998 album Experiments in Alchemy and the 2000 album Embryos in Bloom. The current line up the band, consisting of Todd Smith on vocals, Jason Stepp on guitar, Brian “Wendy” White on bass, Tim Swanson on keyboard, John Ensminger on drums and Matt Rippetoe on saxophone and woodwinds, showcase their various talents perfectly on Experiments in Embryos resulting in an album that holds it’s own with the groups early albums from the late ’90s and early ’00s, while remaining fresh and modern.

The first song on the album is “Siddhis,” which begins with a polka-like beat. This song is not the typical hard rock sound that Dog Fashion Disco is known for, and instead has a somewhat pop feeling to it. It’s a fun song, however, and it shows the listeners that Experiments In Embryos is no ordinary album and that Dog Fashion Disco is not afraid to experiment in style. “Primate,” is a much heavier rock song. Smith’s vocals show varying ranges, exemplifying his talent as a singer. What makes this song stand out, however, is Rippetoe’s exemplary saxophone playing. The saxophone is just another example of Dog Fashion Disco’s willingness to try different things with their music.

Some other notable songs on Experiments In Embryos are “Sexual Abyss,” “Toothless” and “Fetus.” “Sexual Abyss” has a blues style to it, and the saxophone is once again featured heavily. It’s one of the strongest songs on the album, as it’s catchy, and can be enjoyed by fans of various different music genres. “Toothless” on the other hand appears to be another song that strays from any sort of typical rock style in the beginning. However, once the guitar riff begins, the rock elements begin to come in. The song has a rather creepy feeling to it, which works well with the title and content of the song. “Fetus” is a very different song from the other two, but just as notable in its own right. It’s very much a metal song, and the combination of the screaming vocals and loud instruments make it an instant classic for fans of Dog Fashion Disco.

The final song off of Experiments In Embryo is “God Crisis,” a song that changes styles and sound often. It feels as if it’s a reflection of all the different songs on the album as if all of their best elements are combined into one. This song itself could be its own album, as it summarizes all of the band’s talents and skills. “God Crisis” is the best way to end Experiments In Embryo as it wraps up the content of the album well. Experiments In Embryo is now available for purchase.