antiReviews: Doom Kounty Electric Chair�The Homicide Ep

By Goth Brooks

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There are not too many bands out these days that would take on the task of recording a 5-song EP consisting of mostly covers.  I have yet to personally hear any cover I like as much as the original. 

I met the guys in DOOM KOUNTY ELECTRIC CHAIR while going to check out another band that they were opening for that night.  I'd been hearing about DOOM KOUNTY ELECTRIC CHAIR since about 1996, but dismissed them as a bunch of pretentious, posturing, Hollywood scenesters trying to be Rock Stars without the Rock Star credentials.  Well, this ain't the first time I've been wrong about a band and it won't be the last, so I'll clean it up and try to save face here by giving this band some much deserved and long overdue recognition. 

DOOM KOUNTY ELECTRIC CHAIR main-man Jose Cruz has paid his dues in several different L.A. and O.C. based bands, the most notable being Citadel and Zanes Fly.  With DKEC, consisting of Jose, brother Chris Cruz on bass, and Rob Klonel on drums, this band does the most admirable job I've ever seen by anyone doing any number of cover tunes.  What's even cooler about the 5-song HOMICIDE EP is their not so obvious choice of covers.  Jose was definitely born with a Punk Rock heart, and that doesn't mean he waves the Punk Rock flag at the top of the same hill as any of the Johnny-come-lately, corporate-puppet bands we've been flooded with in the past few years.  It's obvious that Jose learned his Punk Rock from the darker, more intimidating and evil sources, "Hell Yeah! Punk Rock is supposed to be EVIL!"  I'd guess that Iggy and the Stooges, Dave Vanian of the Damned, and David Bowie when he was strung out and hanging with Iggy in Germany, are amongst Jose and the rest of the bands influences based on style and attitude.

Musically speaking, the 5-song EP stirs up memories of classic Punk.  The first song on the CD is DKEC's cover of "Homicide" by British Punks 999.  As far as covers go, this is as good as it gets, very true to the original only glossier.  Second song is The Misfits "Hybrid Moments", off of the Static Age album.  The drum intro is killer and Jose does ol' Glenn Danzig to a "T" on this one.  I think Jose also understands that if you can't top the original you may as well come as close to it as you can.  Next is a remixed version of A DOOM KOUNTY original called "Misery" off of their 1996 release, "Stealing Defeat from the Jaws of Victory."  It's hard, fast, and loud, just the way it's supposed to be, and Jose's less-is-more econo chording, and compact lead are the perfect foil to Chris' bass and Robs' drumming.  The 4th song is a cover of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers "I Need to Know".  Not my favorite, but thoroughly revved-up and entertaining nonetheless.  And last but not least is another remixed DOOM KOUNTY original off of "Stealing Defeat from the Jaws of Victory".  They call this one "Burn", and that's exactly what it does!

DKEC CD's and merchandise are available @ www.doomkounty.com 

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