MONSTER MAGNET Share Their Take On DUST’s “Learning To Die”
By
Larry Petro,
News Monkey
Thursday, April 22, 2021 @ 1:29 PM
New Covers Album, A Better Dystopia, Out May 21, 2021 Via Napalm Records
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Napalm Records is pleased to present the next chapter in psychedelic rock icons MONSTER MAGNET’s rabbit hole deep dive, A Better Dystopia (out May 21, 2021): a delightfully (and psychotically) curated collection of 60’s and 70’s proto-metal and late-era psych obscurities covered by the heavy New Jersey legends themselves.
While the album marks a new frontier for MONSTER MAGNET as their first covers record, this is not your typical set of standards released to pass time. A Better Dystopia sees the band pay homage to some of their favorite songs of all time, while reflecting on the paranoia, dystopia and revolution of both now – and then.
Today, fans can get a second glimpse into the album with a video of the band’s cover of classic DUST track, “Learning To Die”.
Of the song selection, frontman Dave Wyndorf says:
“"Learning To Die" blew me away when I was 15 and it still blows me away. Man, do I LOVE to sing this song. DUST was one of the greats."
Watch the new official video for “Learning To Die” BELOW
Wyndorf is at the top of his game on A Better Dystopia, delivering each lyric in his own inimitable style, and musicians Phil Caivano, Bob Pantella, Garrett Sweeney and Alec Morton own the sound – vintage and old school, dense and heavy, with searing fuzz leads and pounding bass and drums all played in a deft style that's almost been lost in modern music. The album opens with “The Diamond Mine”, as Dave Wyndorf recites a classic monologue by Dave Diamond, an American radio DJ whose programs in the late 60’s and early 70’s helped popularize many psychedelic and acid rock bands. At this point the real trip begins, as the opening chords of the HAWKWIND classic “Born To Go” gear up for launch. Tracks like standout “Mr. Destroyer” (POO-BAH) spur visions of some untold Freak revolution – or perhaps dinosaurs battling on a burning planet at the end of time – creating a perfect blend of hard rock and psychedelia. Feverish “Motorcycle (Straight To Hell)” (TABLE SCRAPS) is pure punk fury of the old school tradition, evoking a cross between IGGY POP and MOTORHEAD as Wyndorf wails "I'm gonna drive it straight to HELL!" Falling even further down the mind-bending rabbit hole, MAGNET offers their stunning, whirlwind take on the often-overlooked hard rock classic "Learning To Die" (DUST) and a masterful version the Stooges meets Goth epic, "Solid Gold Hell" (THE SCIENTISTS). The album closes with a bonus nuclear cover of MORGEN’s “Welcome To The Void”, inviting you to restart the ride again and again.
A Better Dystopia tracklisting:
"The Diamond Mine"
"Born to Go"
"Epitaph for a Head"
"Solid Gold Hell"
"Be Forewarned"
"Mr. Destroyer"
"When the Wolf Sits"
"Death"
"Situation"
"It’s Trash"
"Motorcycle (Straight to Hell)"
"Learning to Die"
"Welcome to the Void" - Bonus Track
A Better Dystopia will be available in North America in the following formats:
Digital Album
4 page CD Digipack
4 page CD Digipack + Patch (Napalm mailorder only)
2LP Gatefold Black
2LP Gatefold Pink Transparent (Napalm mailorder only – limited to 300)
2LP Gatefold Cuaracao (Napalm mailorder only – limited to 500) NEW!
2LP Gatefold Purple (Napalm mailorder only – limited to 300) NEW!
2LP Gatefold Glow In The Dark (Napalm mailorder only – limited to 200) SOLD OUT
Limited Die Hard Edition: 2LP Gatefold Neon Green/Black Splatter + Slipmat (Napalm mailorder only – limited to 200) SOLD OUT
