Guitarist Ed Matus is not one to compromise on anything. If there's one thing the man who I once dubbed "the angriest dog in the world" doesn't know how to do - it's backing down. 15 years ago Matus broke up his first band Subliminal Criminal after discovering, during the mix-down of what would have been their second album, that the reason bassist Tony Cina got a goofy grin each night on stage was because he was playing "duh duh duhduhduhdada" ala Ringling Brothers during "Phase One," Matus' favorite song.
So when the short bio accompanying the Waterford Landing's "In The Heart Of The Zombie City" hints at the trials and tribulations of refusing to succumb to the dreaded "sophomore slump" - which is often the rock band kiss of death (see Nuclear Valdez) you can believe Matus wasn't settling for anything less than his band's best. He and band mates Rich Rippe, Neil Rippe and Alex Caso wound up recording 33 songs with 3 different producers over nearly 3 years, before they came up with a 16-track, double album they were happy with.
The result is a complex, very entertaining multi-genre stew that works great if you: A) were brought up on Pink Floyd or Radiohead records that meander a little while setting the mood or B) fast forward past the mood pieces to get to the rock.
However, if you fast-forwarded the record in Matus' presence, you'd probably get a dressing down worthy of a Paris Island drill instructor. Seeing how The Waterford Landing are giving In The Heart Of The Zombie City away for free at audioelectric.net , it's not too much to ask even the most ADD afflicted listener to give it a whirl from start to finish.
At some later date, TWL plans to release "In The Heart Of The Zombie City" on vinyl. Until then, enjoy a free and delicious electric lunch.
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