Alternative rock hybrid outfit Ventenner recently returned with a new EP Slow Dissolve on Athanor Records. Known for fusing metal, atmospheric electronics and doomy riffs, this latest release marks a new era for the band, following a number of years of major changes and upheavals. Ventenner has returned as a solo project with Charlie Dawe handling all the music and vocals, Slow Dissolve is the sound of an artist refreshed, re-focussed and re-energised across 4 new tracks of dark heavy rock & metal, underpinned with atmospheric textures
Charlie now joins us for a WIL on Richard Patrick/Filter
I actually became aware of Filter through the 90’s heyday of film soundtracks. It was a glorious time when every film I liked had an awesome soundtrack to go with it. The Crow, Singles, Empire Records, Lost Highway, Queen Of The Damned, the list is endless. They almost always had songs written specifically for the film too, or exclusive remixes or covers. The absolute pinnacle of these was the Spawn soundtrack in 1997.
A METAL AND ELECTRONIC OBSESSION
As a teenager I was obsessed with all things electronic and metal, so to have my two worlds collide like that having always been very separate, it just blew my mind. And it gave me a completely different view of what was possible musically. I remember sitting in my bedroom like it was yesterday, listening to it on repeat, dissecting it, analysing it, absorbing music the way it was intended.
This was all pre streaming, and almost pre internet, so finding out more about this band called Filter was way trickier back then. I could never find any of their albums in my local HMV and I could only actually catch MTV very rarely. At that point I also had The Crow: City Of Angels soundtrack, with the absolute banger ‘Jurassitol’ on it. That song specifically is basically the blueprint to what I’ve aspired to as a musician ever since. Something about the way Filter put their songs together, it was just literally the perfect thing I was looking for. It just matched with the sound in my head.
Aside from being a fan, Rich’s influence on me was far greater as a musician. His guitar tone is the guitar tone as far as I’m concerned and the standard by which I measure everything related to it. His insane pipes also taught me how to scream and get my vocals up there by learning Filter songs in the early days. I also have an immeasurable amount of respect for him for forging his own path. To step away from a band as big as Nine Inch Nails to pursue his own career and sound is incredibly brave, but I’m glad to see his essential contribution to the early years of NIN have not gone unrecognised as time has passed.
UNIQUE, HONEST AND IMPACTFUL
I still listen to Title Of Record all the time. It’s one of the few albums I always have downloaded on my phone. It’s a front to back classic for me, no skips and no filler. Welcome To The Fold with its monster opening riff, the painful ballad of I’m Not The Only One with its building crescendo and crushing climax, and the lush textures and massive chorus of Skinny. It’s the album I aspire to make some day. Which is not to say I’m trying to emulate Filter, or that album. I just hope to make something as unique, honest and impactful as that one day.
Many, many years later I got the chance to hang out with Rich before a show in London. Weirdly we ended up sightseeing at Buckingham Palace. He told me all the cool stories you’d hope to hear from someone like that. We never got to stay in touch, but to hang out with my hero for one afternoon like that made me feel like that awestruck teenager again back in 1997.
Our thanks to Charlie for the insight into Filter and Richard Patrick.
Enjoy some Ventenner:
Ventenner online: Website / Facebook / Instagram / Bandcamp
You can read more from our extensive archive of Why I Love pieces from a wide array of artists on an even wider array of subjects, here.
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