Steen has already reviewed this CD and after he played me some tunes I immediately gained interest in the band.

As much as I would enjoy calling Steen "Miffo" (see his review for explanation) I must agree that "The Hellbum" is a solid Hard Rock record. Steen's review is spot on and describes the record well. It's been a long time since a new Hard Rock band impressed me, but Dogpound took me by storm.

Dogpound reminds me of another Swedish band Freak Kitchen. Both Hea's vocals, but more highly the amazing guitar work from Micke, who has great playing style. His crunchy guitars are all over the record and provide Dogpound with a heavy edge. The heavy riffs and the groovy guitar work are a contrast to the songwriting, which is very melodic. Dogpound is best described as Hard Rock with a heavy edge.

Album highlights are the songs where Dogpound uses both acoustic and electric guitars. Bleed changes tempo and mixes acoustic and electric guitar. Sounds a bit Led Zeppelinish with the acoustic verse, while the electric chorus is really groovy. Another hybrid of electric/acoustic is the groovy Silent scream, which has an all-acoustic solo from Micke.

The two ballads Way Up high and You Remain provide the album with variety from the otherwise heavy approach. "The Hellbum" is packed with great songs and basically it rediscovers the noble art of entertaining the listener through the albums playing time of approximately 45 minutes. This album is supposed to be played loud.

The lyrics are dark and judgement day is the topic on the meaning titles End Of Our Days and When The World Comes Down. However, the music gets you in a good mood. The lyrics for Loser On A King's Throne are ironic and unpretentious, which also goes for the artwork.

The guitar sound is a bit muddy, but it's the signature of Dogpound along with Hea's vocals. The rhythm section of bassist Figge and drummer Tuka keep it tight through the entire record.

According to the press material Dogpound has been in and out of the music business since 1999. Despite disappointments they have decided to give one last chance. So if you are a Hard Rock fan I advise you to check this band out. The name Dogpound misleads, because they should be named pedigree dog. They are a high quality Hard Rock band with songs that should earn them a consolidated place in the music business.

Check them out - Hard Rock fans already lost a lot of great bands and we don't want that to happen again.


Rating: 7.5/10

Michael - 2/15/04 www.revelationz.net

Dogpound - The Hellbum
2003 Lion Music

With the band Dogpound, Lion Music have kind of branched out from everything you associate with the label. Dogpound are what can be best described as modern melodic hard rock done Scandinavian style. This is by no means a bad thing as many great bands have come out of Sweden over the last decade that are anything but neo-classical. Such names as Damned Nation and Skintrade spring to mind.

Anyway, what we have on "The Hellbum" is 11 very enjoyable straight ahead rock tracks that are home to some excellent melody and indeed solid musical framworks. This album does not require an appreciation of technical mastery to enjoy, just throw it in your cd player and get ready to rock. Scattered throughout we have a collection of great riffs, When The World Comes Down has one of those killer moments, and the bands delivery is full of energy and enthusiasm. The chorus is pretty modern rock mainstream and I could see this band doing big business in the US if given the right exposure and airplay. Vocalist Hea (no surname) has a great slant to his voice which reminds me a little of Daniel Johns of Silverchair. The guitar work here is kicking and the solo is also cool. Going Down In Flames sees some metal oomph thrown into the album with a killer riff, the feel reminds me a little of Faith No More. Again a very strong melodic chorus with strong vocal harmonisation adds extra class.Way Up High sees the tempo drop a little and has a very classy feel to it, the chorus is killer again and begs for radioplay. It reminds me a little of Incubus and bands of their ilk.

The rest of the album is generally in this vein and every track has it moments, the band have their own sound without doubt and if marketed correctly Lion Music could have a very popular band that is able to acquire more mainstream success that its generally more specialist roster.

Hot Spots: End Of Our Days, When The World Come's Down, Going Down In Flames.
Rating: 80%
Andy Craven www.virtuosityone.com

DOGPOUND: "The Hellbum" 7

LionMusic 2003
Review by Urban "Wally" Wallstrom 30 October 2003

They've been spending their days locked up in the "Dogpound" for way too long by now. Mainly due to problems with different record labels as things started to go wrong already back in 2001. I remember reviewing their smashing 7-track demo back then (still in our archives I believe), and a certain label picked them up soonly afterwards.

Disappointed in the music industry and fed up with dishonest people, Swedens Dogpound pretty much decided to call it a day. Guitarist 'Micke' joined full time touring band "Candela" (swedish schlager music - dansband) and the rest of the members shattered quietly into the night. Nevertheless, now they're back with a vengeance and the smashing album "The Hellbum" at LionMusic.

I'm sure that some of you are familiar with the song "When The World Comes Down" as it was featured on a label sampler earlier. This is one marvelous uptempo rocker in the Swedish tradition of Talisman and Freak Kitchen. Micke is one helluva string bender and what a waste of talent to have him spending his days with Candela. The groovy rhythm section with Figge (bass) and Tuka (drums) are pretty much rock solid too. And like I wrote in my demo review earlier "a heavier verse is always followed up by a melodic sing-a-long chorus". I miss however a couple of tracks from the demo days, even if they've replaced them with better or similar material. For example the excellent ballads "You Remain" and "Way Up High", where the latter is one of the highlights this year. "...For My Sins" is a nice 'throwaway' rocker a'la Takara and opener "End Of Our Days" is another winner. "The Hellbum" is most of all guitar rock with lots of wicked riffs and an overall loud attitude. A safe pick up if you're into above mentioned bands and a lot more chorus/melody oriented than later days Talisman.
www.aoreurope.com

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DOGPOUND - THE HELLBUM (2003, LION MUSIC)

DOGPOUND / The Hellbum / Lion Music
by: DERRIC MILLER

 

“It’s a time of madness, it’s proven to us every day … it’s the end of our days.” Ahhh, nothing like an upbeat “end of the world song” to start a CD off with. And that is exactly what Dogpound does on their debut release, The Hellbum. It is almost funny how downright happy this song is, whether they want it to be or not. This is the first of many great songs on The Hellbum, a welcome surprise that you all need to hear.

Dogpound was formerly called Frozen Miffo, and each member of the band at that time had other priorities than the band they all played in together. Luckily, Lion Music — who is more known for progressive metal, which Dogpound isn’t — received their demo and signed them, keeping them together. You’ll have to thank them for it.

If you want to figure out their sound, mix in a little Ted Poley-era Danger Danger with D.A.D., and crank it up a notch or two. Harder guitars, faster songs, but vocally, along those Poley-lines. Just harder. But there is really no reason to label them; just listen and enjoy.

The aforementioned “End of Our Days,” has an ‘80s vibe to it. It is straight-ahead rock, with controlled vocals, chugging riffs and a smooth melody. It also has lines like, “It’s time for positive thinking: I can, yes I can!” But when they follow that by avowing that “no one’s there, no one cares, no one dares,” you see it’s not all happy-happy joy-joy.

“Bleed” is an even harder song, guitar-driven heavy and then smooth, almost like Nickelback does, except better and not contrived. In fact, just listening to the first two songs alone, you’ll begin to wonder if this is doom-metal dressed up as hard rock. What else can you think when they say, “See the damage built around the lies. Whatever happened to modern day society?”

The darkness keeps plugging away, with the songs “When the World Comes Down,” followed by “Going Down in Flames.” The thing is, if you just listen and crank it up and don’t read along with the lyrics, you are going to swear these guys are happy. “Going Down in Flames” is the harder of the two, and probably the darkest, with lyrics like “Miracles can’t save us … we’re going down in flames.”

Later on the CD, you’ll see them start to exert their sense of humor. And that’s another thing Dogpound does well (and why there was a D.A.D. reference). The song “Loser on a King’s Throne,” is just flat-out funny. This is another fast song, with great riffs that will have you smashing your head into things. Vocalist Hea has an unassuming delivery that actually packs a punch — especially when you attempt to sing along with him. He has a strong delivery, a good range, and an excellent hard rock voice. Plus, when you sing along with him and yell, “I’m a total waste of space, a loser, a disgrace,” it just FEELS right.

Thankfully, they actually turn positive on the song “Ready to Believe.” The drums are probably the best part of this song, a constant pounding, almost like an affirmation that “yeah, I’m ready to believe!” Just another gem among gems here.

Overall, the best song is “Silent Scream.” This embodies their riff-heavy guitar sound, ability to crank it up and slow it down while keeping a constant flow, and making the melodic sound hard, and vice versa. Of course, with the line,” please save me from myself,” you’ll get the desperation and the moribund again. By now, you’ll realize it’s part of their charm …

The only thing you can say is that Dogpound deserves to be heard. Live, if you are lucky, but at least on the radio, in your car, in your office, at the strip club — everywhere you frequent. Plus, the drummer also plays cowbell, so there. www.metalexpress.no

 

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DOGPOUND - The Hellbum

Releasedate: 11.November 2003

The Swedish band Dogpound has been around since 1999, but then under the name Frozen Miffo. It all started
when guitarist Micke Dahlqvist presented some song ideas to his classmates at The Nordic School Of Rock
Music in Munkfors, Sweden. Micke, Hea , Figge and Calle soon start to rehearse and after some rehearsals they
had two songs ready, "Bleed" and "Live My Way". They recorded their first demo in a studio at their school, with
help from soundengineer-student John Eriksson. It was in this period they changed their name to Dogpound. Some
problems with different record labels was one of the things who lead the band to a stop in their career, the four guys
continued their musical career in different projects. But in 2002 they decided to try again and recorded a six track demo
who was sent to Lion Music in Finland. The result of that landed in my mailbox some weeks ago, the album Hellbum.

Lion Music seems to have a big potential bringing us great bands, one after the other. Earlier this year they released
the Section A project from Torben Enevoldsen, who has become one of my favorite albums this year. After I received Dogpound, my CD player has been red hot several times. The eleven tracks on Hellbum has no weak points at all,
if you ask me. Musically it seems to me that these guys has learned a lot from their musical studies. The music changes
from the brutal to a more melodic hard rock oriented style, with great refrain parts and huge guitar sound. Dogpound
has developed a rough and great guitar sound, the best I`ve heard in many years. I remember the first times I heard
the American band Extreme, and specially their first album: I thought then that it was something new and revolutionary.
The same thing happened when I heard Dogpound, with the special sound they have, and their new way to express
the music. It`s not so often I find bands with this right and especially pitch I`m seeking when I hear a new band, but
Dogpound is definitely one of these few bands. The nearest comparisons I can think of who are in likes of Dogpound`s
music is bands like Extreme, Harem Scarem (on the Voice Of Reason album) and you also can hear some influences
from newer bands like Creed and Nickelback. The bomb goes off on the first track End Of Our Days, from this
point they are taking us on a journey of very good written songs with variety from track to track. Bleed, Way Up
High, Loser On A King`s Throne and the balladlike You Remain, are killer songs with very good sound, great
vocals and guitar sound who took my breath away. A band once had a song called Going For Gold, I don`t remain
their name, but I`m sure Dogpound are going for gold too, because this is high Quality music from Sweden, you need
to check it out, this band rocks like H!!!!!!
                                                                                                                                      http://www.dogpound.da.ru/
                                                                                                                                   http://www.lionmusic.com/

Dogpound are:

Hea - Vocals
Micke - Guitars
Figge - Bass
Tuka - Drums

Review from : Melodic Hardrock Today

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DOGPOUND - THE HELLBUM (2003, LION MUSIC)
GOOD 95/100

Hea - vocals; Micke - guitars; Figge - bass; Tuka - drums, cowbell (?)

Boy, this album fizzes from start to finish! Who the hell let these Swedish monsters out of the kennel? Whoever did should be congratulated, as this is guaranteed to wake up the neighbors like the dog barking his head off at 5am in the morning!

Lets take a little history lesson. The band started out in 1999 under the handle of Frozen Miffo, a collection of musicians studying at Nordiska Rockmusiklinjen in Mukfors Sweden. A few demos, and a 'host of sour relationships with prospective labels' later, the band were put on frozen ice, as they ventured out doing other projects. However, as per their bio, they got together in December 2002 for one last final fling in the hope of making it, and 'The Hellbum' and a deal with Lion Music is the end result.

Following on from this years fantastic Section A release, Lion have struck gold once again. Though Dogpound are brutally heavy at times, they are soooo melodic for a rough and ready band, image notwithstanding. There's no doubting class when you hear it, and the time they spent at 'school' has obviously paid dividends, because the 11 tracks on show throughout is the proof in the pudding. Comparison wise, refer to the guitar power last heard on Rich Ward's Sick Speed project, throw in some Spread Eagle and Saint And Sinners and you'll end up at the entrance to the Dogpound.

There's not a weak track here, most of them rockin' up a storm, bludgeon guitar work, but on occasion when they descend out of the dark melodic maelstrom they've created, some lovely acoustic flamenco stuff can be heard. A couple of those milder moments include 'You Remain' and the effortless 'Way Up High', both stopovers on a breathtaking ride. Elsewhere, just crank up tracks like 'When The World Comes Down', 'Loser On A Kings Throne' or the dizzy fast-paced 'For My Sins' to see what I mean.

This album (or is that Hellbum?) is gonna take many by surprise. It hasn't taken us for a ride, as we know how good this is: we've just told you so! Medley download to follow..

Review By: George Thatcher
URL: www.lionmusic.com
Track Time: 43.58
Release Date: November 11, 2003

Track Listing:
01 End Of Our Days
02 Bleed
03 When The World Comes Down
04 Going Down In Flames
05 Way Up High
06 Loser On A Kings Throne
07 Ready To Believe
08 You Remain
09 For My Sins
10 Silent Scream
11 Welcome To The Mystery

 

Dogpound: The Hellbum Finnish label Lion Music upped the bar for itself with the recent release of Sun Caged’s self-titled debut, one of the best prog-metal albums of the year. Now comes another scorcher. Dogpound’s The Hellbum belies the redneck cover artwork and the band’s Swedish origin, offering a big slice of American-sounding melodic hard rock. With chunky riffs, crisp vocals and dynamite harmonies straight out of the Eighties, Dogpound’s feel-good songs seethe with a dark undercurrent. Tracks like “End of Our Days,” “When the World Comes Down,” “Going Down in Flames,” “Loser on a King’s Throne” and “ … For My Sins” contain elements of fatalism or self-loathing. It’s an odd juxtaposition, augmented by goofy line drawings of dogs inside the CD booklet. But it works for this quartet, even if the thin production drops the overall impact down a notch or two. With outstanding recent releases by Sun Caged, Section A and now Dogpound, Lion – perhaps known best as an instrumental-guitar label – is proving that it’s capable of seeking out quality bands with powerful vocalists, too. Here’s hoping the trend continues … Added: November 8th 2003 Reviewer: Michael Popke  www.seaoftranquility.com Score: Related Link: Lion Music Hits: 11 Language: english

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DOGPOUND - THE HELLBUM (Lion Music)

I reviewed a demo by this Swedish melodic hard rock band Dogpound over two years ago, so it's good to finally see them getting their excellent material out there. They signed to Z Records, but for reasons unknown they were let go and then Lion Music took their option up. Dogpound also show technical and progressive elements, thus they sound quite different from your usual bands associated with melodic rock. Their songs are dynamic and powerful in someway they remind of defunct Swedish rock band Southpaw through to Freak Kitchen and Vagabond. So it's nice to see Lion Music take a chance on a band who stand as one of their stand out artists simply because of their power and diversity, which makes each song thrilling and entertaining.

Check out songs like 'End Of Our Days', this is very addictive and the chorus sticks in your head from the start and even throws in some ideas that are similar in structure to Harem Scarem's "Voice Of Reason" album. 'Bleed' is catchy and hit hard, this is a stomping rocker with fiery Zakk Wylde/George Lynch inspired blazing riffs. The way the vocals from Hea are sung on this song sound like a mixture of Creed style rock and 80's rock, best of both world for all fans with this song, and a song that could open up larger markets for the label, should they be keen enough to promote it outside the melodic hard rock base.

'When The World Comes Down' is another catchy song with heavy cranking guitars, one of the CD best tracks reminding me of Freak Kitchen. 'Going Down In Flames' is a very fun head banging chunky rocker with a very infectious chorus. 'Way Up High' is more melodic based, a cool slower balladic song and then 'Loser On A King's Throne' is an awesome modern rocker, again like Freak Kitchen with fast guitar riffs, almost like Freak Kitchen crossed with a harder edged Extreme, great song, very catchy. 'Ready To Believe' is more melodic rocking reminding me of Lillian Axe. 'You Remain' is another of the albums highlights. This song is very melodic and super cool, the chorus is dreamy and just captures a more mature side to the band, totally brilliant.

It's back to the hot rockin' with the memorable '..For My Sins', this is very melodic and is again like Harem Scarem crossed with T.N.T. and Lillian Axe, fantastic song. The band modernize their sound once again on 'Silent Scream', it's also melodic and a very good song and another highlight, the chorus is very melodic, it's just the guitars that make is sound modern, like Freak Kitchen. Singer Hea puts in one of his best performance of the whole album on this song. The last song on the CD is called 'Welcome To The Mystery' and is more of the above with hints of Talisman and Dammed Nation.

You know the more I play Dogpound the more I enjoy them,the production is solid and raw and the band make each track sound interesting and different from the previous song . A most entertaining album indeed.

www.lionmusic.com

http://dogpound.da.ru

85/100

Nicky Baldrian www.aordreamzones.com