“Fans of roots reggae & dub stylings would be well advised to grab themselves a copy of the excellent new album by New York outfit DUB IS A WEAPON titled "Vaporized". Dub Is A Weapon boast NYC ska legends Dave Hahn & Buford O'Sullivan in their line up & deliver 9 tracks of highly addictive instrumental reggae & dub goodness.”
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DoTheDog Skazine
“Recently serving as both opener and backing band of dub pioneer Lee “Scratch” Perry, the group recalls the grittier, hard-hitting sounds of Britain’s Dub Syndicate. “I realize that most people’s idea of dub is something that you sit on your couch and listen to while doing bong hits,” chuckles Hahn, 32. “But I wanted to do something that would make people get up and dance-and something that was a little more confrontational.” Mission accomplished. ”
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Relix.com
“Dub Is A Weapon charged ahead with overstated rhythms and a spiraling undulating sound that literally forced you to move or loose your balance.”
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Jambase.com
“Bass and drum coming so hard and dangerous you can see the competition’s bloodstains.”
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Village Voice
“The nine lengthy tracks are instrumentals save for “Forwarding Home” a Rasta-centric bit of reasoning nicely voiced by Rob Symeonn. There are numerous ways I could attempt to be clever in describing this sonic weaponry: that it’s dynamite, it’s fully loaded, it’s of a very high caliber, it’s killer, and so on. All would be applicable. But none would take the place of actually hearing it, something any lover of reggae and dub needs to do.”
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Tom Orr, WorldMusicCentral.org
“Although reggae has a long, complex (and often self-contradictory) history, Dub Is a Weapon studies their lessons and apply the tactics of the greats. But while other groups stop here, Dub Is a Weapon pushes the envelope, injecting some of their own background into Jamaican music as opposed to making crude imitations. Vaporized doesn't replicate the works of earlier dub titans. But, by refraining to try duplicate the works of Tubby and Perry, Dub Is a Weapon show that they understand those great works better than those that go for strict imitation. ”
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John Gentile, PunkNews.org
“Brooklyn's Dub Is a Weapon has created an album of kaleidoscopic sounds. Vaporized is a nine track record loaded with energy and creativity. With seven individuals, fronted by Dave Hahn, bringing a range of talents to the scene, it's not surprising that the album encompasses so much. They infuse reggae, funk, hip-hop and dub, providing a bit of everything for the listener...There is a clear atmosphere created on Vaporized, one that reaches outside the normal boundaries of dub, and one that is thoroughly enticing and enjoyable. ”
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Vanessa Bennett, Performer
“From the Black Ark days of Lee Perry to Tubby's Waterhouse dubs and discipleship of King Jammy, it's good to see that DIAW are carrying on the torch for dub fans worldwide. "Vaporized" not only exemplifies the evolution of dub but pays tribute to its history by retaining key characteristics that make quality dub music what it is. Visit their website and grab up some of their free live downloads for further listening!”
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Chuck Reinemann, MusicBailOut.net
“The Brooklyn-based band's menacing name might have something to do with the fact that its creator, Dave Hahn, had to pretty much beat back the naysayers in the beginning. Then again, no one had done live dub before. (Dub usually refers to the art of remixing and manipulating existing reggae music by removing the vocals and emphasizing the drum and bass.) Of its sound the band says, "The vibe is trippy, but with a fire and edge that gives Dub Is A Weapon’s music real punch. This is music for serious dance-floor moves, not spacey evenings on the couch.”
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Staff, Mountain Xpress
“There are numerous ways I could attempt to be clever in describing this sonic weaponry: that it’s dynamite, it’s fully loaded, it’s of a very high caliber, it’s killer, and so on. All would be applicable. But none would take the place of actually hearing it, something any lover of reggae and dub needs to do. ”
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Tom Orr, niceup.com
“With Vaporized, Dub Is A Weapon has managed something that many attempt but never quite pull off: they’ve put their own spin on a long-established genre while handling it with the respect it deserves. And made you want to shake your butt at the same time.
Pretty damn cool.
”
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Brian Robbins, jambands.com
“Dub originated in the recording studios of Jamaica as trippy reggae musicians experimented with the controls. In the digital age the idea of introducing the sonic dimension of dub to the stage is no longer especially remarkable, but NYC's Dub is a Weapon have built a reputation for doing just that. WithVaporized, the circle comes round as the group bring their live dub back to the studio. Deep reggae grooves and arresting melodies encounter the occasional flourish of soul organ, jazzy saxophone and rock guitar in an album at once a little spacey but thoroughly grounded in hip swaying rhythms.Vaporized is an enjoyable effort by a multigenerational crew with a good grip on the sounds of Jamaica.”
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David Luhrssen, Express Milwaukee
“Dub traditionally was the realm of producers and engineers with Magico-techno smarts harnessing tape delays and reverb washes, but here it has come unhinged from the studio and evolved under the live stage creativity of the musicians. Enter Dave Hahn, a seasoned sideman and dub engineer (the Slackers, Antibalas, Easy Star All-Stars, Lee Perry). Hahn has crafted a live dub record and it's a confrontational sound, to be sure...This is no armchair dub record to smoke along to; it's the sound of a smoking band cocking the trigger. A weapon, indeed.”
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Brent Hagerman, Exclaim
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I like your perspective on music(: and I love your sound, one love<3:)