Leader Dogs for the Blind
Lemonade
Reviewed by Scott Thurston
The cool irony of the debut from Leader Dogs For The Blind -- essentially Lyndon Perry and friends -- is that it gives "heavy metal" a good name. This project has generated a heavy buzz for its clean, aggressive take on hard rock; it's also drawn comparisons from a wide variety of sources, as listeners catch wind of the mumble-to-a-scream dynamic range of Filter, the sleek, flashy hard rock of White Zombie, the dark, angular chordplay of King's X and the muscular harmonics of Alice In Chains. Nice company, when you can keep it. However, while the other bands often use the sonic backdrop to discuss the darker issues of life -- suicide, addiction, violence -- Lemonade only rarely rises above the mundane. The title track, for instance, isn't just about "lemonade" -- it's about a specific glass of lemonade. The common headbanger won't mind though; sometimes all that matters is the volume. And this is a mighty strong glass of Lemonade.