College Times

Media Credit: Brooks Reynolds

Putting a debut album together is tough enough. Damiera, the Buffalo four-piece, has the dubious distinction of having done it twice. The band released its critically-appreciated, full-length review M(US)ic in January 2007, creating a modest buzz in the process, but unexpectedly went on a permanent hiatus less than three months later. But vocalist/guitarist David Raymond trudged on, doing his best Axl Rose (minus the dreads and the dramatic weight gain) by bringing on three new hired hands to perform under the same name. But it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Quiet Mouth Loud Hands, Damiera’s “second debut,” of sorts, isn’t a complete departure from the guitar-driven, straight-ahead style of M(US)ic. The band’s new bassist, Jayson Dezuzio, captained the production of the band’s first record before stepping into a recording booth (which, interestingly enough, was built in a science classroom in an abandoned school in Buffalo, New York), and used his experience producing records for bands like Coheed and Cambria and My Chemical Romance to bring a seasoned feel to the album. It’s difficult to tell that three-fourths of the band is new. “Writing is a very organic process,” Dezuzio says. “Dave and I will have ideas and we use that to bring to the other guys and really finish writing the arrangement. If we are ever known for anything I would like it to be for being great songwriters.” Assuming Damiera v. 2 doesn’t implode without warning like the first time around, tracks like the stuttery, nimble “Woodbox” and the dance-strutting “Teacher, Preacher,” that effectively work to break up the threatening prog-rock drone on the album, might get them there.

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