Damned Pilots-Spaced Out

Self-Release/Independent
2012

Italy's Damned Pilots (not to be confused with supergroup/supercrap Damned Things) are an odd little entity. Let's address the obvious. From the album art alone these guys remind me of Powerman 5000 (except for the guy in the bottom right corner who for some reason reminds me of  Adrian Brody). Of the 6 tracks on this EP 2 are covers. "Believe Me Now" by Electric Light Orchestra and "Sleeping (In The Fire)" by W.A.S.P. (I'll get back to that cover in a second or two). Damned Pilots, who dub their sound "superrock post nuclear stoner glam", somehow make both covers work and seem like naturally choices. As this is the band's first recording it's a rather smooth trip. The title might be even more fitting then you'd expect (given the EP's art work and all). "Spaced Out" sees this Italian band (Trieste, North Italy) tripping the light fantastic with a smash-up of White Zombie/solo Rob Zombie, Soundgarden, Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Stone Temple Pilots, Alice In Chains, T Rex and maybe even some Jane's Addiction. No worries though. If you were reading that and said "Jane's Addiction?" or "David Bowie?" it's all good as Damned Pilots are, if nothing else, more heavy then glam. If you're into "tags" then file this EP under "post-grunge", "alt. metal", "hard rock" or "stoner rock". This is the sound of a young band tossing it all out there and letting the chips fall where they may. Oh, I did say I'd get back to the W.A.S.P. cover. I had to go back and listen to the original ballad again to make sure I wasn't mistaken, but Damned Pilots, while making the cover song there own, do make it sound more like a heavier Pink Floyd then anything else! That might sound weird, but weirdly it works. Damned Pilots might need a little more time to "mature" their identity and tighten up a few loose ends, but they have a solid foundation in place and could soon stumble upon a truly out of this world sound.

http://damnedpilots.bandcamp.com/album/spaced-out