SONG REVIEW: DREAD - “MEDUSA”

Written by Jesse James Smith

The AZ underground kings have returned for another serving of ass kicking! Dread is back with their newest track titled “Medusa” and it is every bit of heavy that I was wanting! The band has been cooking since 2023 with their debut single “Backdraft” and has been consistently creating a following ever since. They have a pretty unique style of heavy that mixes beatdown heaviness with metalcore melodies. Especially in this song, they have a synth-style element to it that really makes them stand out. 

This song starts with a cool glitch intro that gives cybergoth vibes! Even that was heavy so the anticipation set in quickly. It was all worth it because as the song kicks in, it hits like a train. The first thing I noticed was how incredibly heavy the guitars were and how low they’re tuned. The bass is also the perfect amount of clanky and clean and sits right in the middle of the mix.  As the chorus came, it was a nice relief and switch up. For a heavier band, they fit the soft part perfectly. 

Overall this track crushes and fits in nicely with their other songs. Dread is definitely one of the bands in that area and the stuff their putting out reflects why. I hope there is an EP on the horizon, I’m anxiously waiting for a collective piece of work from these guys. If you’re in the Phoenix area, check these guys out.