The western foothills of the Appalachian Mountains have bred numerous folk artists. The area is what many consider one of the birthplaces of traditional American music. It is a region that deeply holds on to centuries old traditions and practices, especially when dealing with music. This can often cause an artist to grow stale, and disenchanted within the scene.
Harry Pedigo has played violin and guitar for years in folk, country, and bluegrass bands. He currently still plays locally as part of an alt-country trio. This is his first solo album, and it is a breakaway from any sort of tradition. Pedigo released Dylan is Dead as a solo project on August 3rd. Officially labeled as black metal influenced alt-country and punk rock inspired newgrass, Dylan is Dead is sure to be a dark folk classic. The black metal influence is strong throughout the entirety of the EP. Each song has some element of darkness to it, and is surely something new for the folk music scene.
Dylan is Dead opens with a dark, funeral march of an intro. The ominous, elongated notes in the background lead well into “To Walk a Path Carved by Wolves.” The single of the EP, this song has a stomping folk rhythm, but with a verse built on black metal speed picking. Musically it would be easy to expect soulful crooning, instead there are raspy growls delivering the horrific tale. As primarily this song, and the EP as a whole is intended, “To Walk a Path Carved by Wolves” is the pursuit of artistic and spiritual liberation down a dark and untamed path.
“Where Shadows Forever Fall” slows down a bit, but the gospel style clap along keeps steady rhythm. The notes and chords are just right to give this song a very dark atmosphere, but with a catchy sing-along chorus. Slightly changing tone, “Rider I (The Vagabond)” is bluesy with a great groove despite not having bass. It is perfect for that two-wheeled cruise into the sunset when the Easy Rider soundtrack just doesn’t cut it. “Night, Sleep, Death, and the Stars” invokes images of a shadowy stranger telling his tale around a dimly lit fire, or hidden within a train car. The ominous violin playing creates a hauntingly eerie aura.
The most metal sounding of the EP is “Lupus Lunae; or, Lycanthropy in Theory and Practice.” It has a lifted tempo, it’s gritty, and is sure to induce a bit of headbanging. “Rider II (The Outlaw)” is much like “Rider I” in its bluesy feel, but with soulful and sorrowful wailing vocals, and freight train rhythm. The story and concept come full circle with the outro. Similar in structure to the intro, the lead out is somber, yet building. It leaves a want for more of this dark tale.
Dylan is Dead has dealt with the death of the true singer/songwriter within the current music industry in its own fashion. The EP is gritty, dark, and breaks tradition. Further inspired by the heyday of black metal tape trading, Dylan is Dead is available on cassette via Appalachian Noise Records. It is also available digitally on Bandcamp and Spotify.