“Scared to spit in the face of fate, they sit on their own hands.”

- Comfort, "Transcendent Dreams"

Richmond – A few months ago, our very own Mike Blackmore covered a local showcase in Fredericksburg (see “Wine Bar Punk”, Vol. 126, Jan. 2011), and considered Richmond-based metal band Comfort a highlight of the evening.  I recently came into possession of the group’s self-titled debut 7” and have been hooked ever since.  Consisting of Miles Dumville (vocals), Ryan Evans (guitar), Josh Phillips (drums), and Kirk Maltais (bass), Comfort incinerates five songs in just over six minutes through bursts of unadulterated aggression that evoke No Heroes-era Converge and Far Beyond Driven-era Pantera.  Opening with the feedback squalls and frenetic drumming of “Transcendent Dreams,” Miles establishes himself as a compelling and confident screamer that never strains his phrasing, a trait that is sorely underrated in doom metal and grindcore.  More feedback leads into “Shepherd’s Hand,” which kicks the listener in the teeth before fading out in dissonant minor chords over a repeated pummeling drum fill. 

The record’s second side gives off the impression that these songs could disintegrate at any moment, held together by the weakest of threads.  Yet, one never doubts Comfort’s ability to pull them off.  It takes a truly talented rhythm section to create the illusion of chaos when the songs are so tightly wound, this easily being one of my favorite qualities of this recording.  “Conditioned” comes and goes in less than a minute of possessed drumming and demonic guitars, and “Stand” follows with a giant, crushing, juggernaut of a riff.  “We’re Fucked” closes side two with another punishing riff, as Miles embraces doom by stating, “There is no hope / For those like us.”   

The album was recorded in just four hours, with most done in one take, by Tim Gault at Double O Studios in Hampton in November of 2010.  According to drummer Josh Phillips, “Our plans for the near future are to get this 7” out and into as many people’s hands as possible…Miles is going to go be Grizzly Adams and hike the fucking Appalachian Trail.  As long as he doesn’t go full Ted Kaczynski we’ll be back in full force in about six months.”

MySpace.com/ComfortRVA

By Editor-In-Chief and Correspondent: Andrew Lutwin

Andrew is originally from Boston, but has spent equal time in Richmond and considers both home.  He graduated VCU with a B.A. in English and looks forward to seeing if his degree will be worth a damn.  While attending Northeastern University, Andrew began covering music for the Zig-Zag Live website and tour campaign, which won him the undying affection of Bostonians because of his access to free rolling papers.  He is fortunate enough to have parents with great taste in music and owes much of his musical sensibilities to them.  Some of his favorites include the Beatles, the Clash, My Morning Jacket, Mastodon, Mission of Burma, all 70s R&B, and anything that can be considered "outlaw."  Other hobbies include food, guitar, whiskey, hiking, Boston sports, and maintaining his beginner-level fish tank.

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