RAGINPIT MAGAZINE

The Venting Machine - Diablo Demo
Release Date: 2004
Track Listing:
1. Neverending
2. Make It Die
3. Pica
4. War Paint
5. Itchy Blood
6. Pottymouth
7. Clean
8. Grapholagnia
9. Stage 3
10. Jettatura
11. Serum
12. The Venting Machine

Out of the many unsigned bands in the Northern California region I have collected many demos. Many were just discs inserted into blank paper sleeves most of the time with none other than the band's name written on it with a permanent marker. When Chad Murphy, bass player for The Venting Machine, kicked me down a copy of their latest work Diablo for a review, I felt rather pleased knowing I actually have something more to describe other than just what I hear when I throw the disc into my CD player.

Wrapped up in cellophane was an ominous looking picture of a long horn steer with a red graphic back ground giving it a 3D appearance. Written on it was "Diablo Demo" set in flames. I opened it up to find that this band has definitely taken their time putting together a very professional presentation. On the first page I found well written lyrics which were followed by a section dedicated to all those who have supported them over the last few years. On the back is a list of all the tracks along with their website URL should anyone want to find out any more about or want to book this dynamic line up. I mention all these details because I feel it's worth making your fans wait sometimes, so you can take time putting something together worth paying 10 or so bucks for. As the old saying goes, "you only get to make one first impression," especially when your CD is being passed around through the scene gaining fans and hopefully the attention of a worthy record deal.

Diablo opens up with the song "Never Ending." It began with an eerie single guitar melody for a couple of bars then exploded into some really cool riffs catching my attention right of the get go. This soon lead to a head banging hook and some intensely raspy and haunting vocals by Brady Hoover front man for The Venting Machine.

Not even taking a breath they lead you into another fast paced tune called "Make it Die." So far from reading the lyrics I see that Hoover has some serious shit running through his head as he describes his thoughts and frustrations of his outlook on the world around him.

"Pica" follows next and I am becoming convinced that Jeremy Epp "Venting guitarist" is one outstanding player giving us an intense and complex diet of guitars not easily matched by many I have seen in the area. I feel that isn't the only impressive thing that stands out. Binding everything together is one of the tightest bass and drum combos I have ever heard in the NorCal circuit. Chad Murphy's bass riffs are locked in tight reinforcing Joe Tobin on drums.

Last summer Joe picked up an award at the Ozzfest during a contest for fastest foot work. It shows heavily on their next track "War Paint" where they start of with some tight break rhythms mixed with more of Brady's harsh vocals and showing off his ability to belt out some very melodic parts as well.

"Itchy Blood" kicks in next and is for sure one of my favorites on here. The lyrics I make out describe stripping away anything and everything that is false, breaking out of what has become normal and fucked up, and most of all getting off your ass and making something of yourself.

The track next up is "Potty Mouth" which is full of catchy hooks and drives you to want to mosh around and tear it up. I have seen these guy's live performance a few times and have witnessed this song to be crowd favorite over and over.

"Clean" starts with cadence style rhythm which supports this demo well giving you the urge to keep your stereo cranked at notch 11 and making you go deaf and loving it. My hat's off to anyone who can write a song about beating off and keeping it serious.

The"Grapholagnia" is just that song I'm talking about. They have a special guest singer who picks up the mic, Kelly Dalton, who ads a cool contrast to Brady on this track and I will mention this song will probably fuck with me during my own personal session of self gratification.

TVM slows it down now on "Stage 3" taking on a more acid rock feel mixed still intense guitars. This set's a very eerie persona towards a subject that has crossed my mind a few times making me question whether my own life, my friends and events that happen are nothing more than a dream and I'm just waiting to wake up from it all.

"Jettaura" flows out as a creepy instrumental short, simple and sets a perfect scene for "Serum," the following song blending together slow riffs and fast riffs but none more over bearing than the other.

As a final statement TVM closes with "The Venting Machine" I'm not sure which came first the song name or the band title, but you won't think about that much when you start to relate to the 24 year old in this song waking up to realize we live in a brutal world. Even faced with such a bleak out look on things this song made me realize it's not what is thrown at you in life that defines who we are, but it's about what we choose to do about it. I quote from the lyrics: "Shit or get off the pot!" I hope that not only the bad ass riffs and vocals on this final song drive people to not take such a passive approach to life, but take the lyrics to heart and break form the norm to change what seems to be so dark in their lives.

This four man team of metal fury shows a serious approach to their music in recording, song composition, and presentation. I have two categories which I keep my CD collection organized usually keeping my demos in one section and national music in another. I think this CD should and will placed in the latter just because after hearing it, it didn't seem right to file it away as just a demo. On a scale of 1 to 10 I give this one an eleven for the quality, energy and effort that went into producing it. You should get a copy yourself if you haven't already. Hit them up for a copy on their web site www.theventingmachine.com.

More on The Venting Machine:
http://www.myspace.com/theventingmachineband