Dusted Angel | This Side Of The Dirt | Heavy Psych Sounds Records

 

Release Date: September 19, 2024

Format: Digital, Vinyl, CD

Genre: Stoner/Doom Metal

Country: USA

Emerging from the rugged shores of Santa Cruz, California, Dusted Angel was formed in the late 2000s by members deeply tied to the hardcore and heavy rock underground. Fronted by Clifford Dinsmore of Bl’ast! fame, the band blends the spirit of that scene with the thick, dust-coated grooves of stoner and doom metal. Their early years were full of energy and live shows, but tragedy and illness nearly dissolved the project. Years later, after personal battles, lineup changes, and sheer persistence, Dinsmore and company have returned with “This Side Of The Dirt,” their first studio album in fifteen years. The result captures the experience of a band that’s been through hell and somehow came back louder.

 “This Side Of The Dirt” sounds like it was born straight out of a smoky Californian rehearsal space where time never mattered and riffs were a form of therapy. The guitars have a thick, fuzzy texture that instantly puts the listener in that slow, hypnotic zone where stoner and doom metal meet. There’s no rush, just a sense of purpose in every riff and drum hit. Clifford Dinsmore’s voice hasn’t lost its bite; he sounds raw, grounded, and aged in the best way, bringing a touch of punk roughness into a desert rock storm.

The songs stretch and breathe naturally, heavy without collapsing into sludge, and groovy without turning predictable. Tracks such as “Plastic People” and “Death Crushes Hope” build a dark tension before dropping into head-nodding rhythm. “Redman” and “This Side Of The Dirt” move with a desert swagger, recalling the era when doom metal had grit instead of polish. By the time “The Thorn” and “Seeking The Dawn” hit, the band feels locked in, a unit of old friends rediscovering their spark through pure noise.

The production by Tim Green at Louder Studios keeps everything raw and organic. The guitars are thick but never smother the drums, and the vocals sit perfectly inside the storm instead of towering over it. It’s the kind of sound that belongs to bands who’ve spent years in dark practice spaces rather than clean studios.

After everything the members have gone through, Dusted Angel sounds like survivors who found joy again in turning up their amps and letting the riffs roll. It’s not flashy, it’s not modern, it’s pure, heavy, and sincere. “This Side Of The Dirt” doesn’t pretend to be anything else, and that’s exactly what gives it power. A solid return from a band that’s earned every scar. “This Side Of The Dirt” feels lived-in and real, a dusty slab of doom-driven rock that captures the heart of old-school heaviness without any pretense. It’s an album made by people who never stopped believing that loud guitars can still save lives.

Score: 7.0

Dusted Angel links:

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