Retro is in; at least, that’s what labels would have you believe with all the re-issues of gems from the ‘70s and ‘80s. This column covered one of those (Medusa’s First Step Beyond) a while back, and this week is another look at an oldie getting a fresh paint job. Dust, which is notable for featuring future Ramones drummer Marky Ramone aka Marc Bell, is getting their two lone studio albums released together on one complete CD.

Though over 40 years old, Dust and Hard Attack are seminal releases for the early development of heavy metal.

It’s true that calling these albums outright heavy metal is suspect, but the foundation is there. It’s hard to turn a deaf ear to the doom-laced trip the band heads on during the ten-minute “From A Dry Camel.” Shades of Black Sabbath are evident on this song. However, the band loved prog music, and that’s clear with their easy going, acoustic-laden melodies that surround at least half of the songs. They have noted Cream and Jethro Tull as inspiration, and those influences are prominent in these 17 songs.

Unlike a band like Cream, Dust strive to play loud, and doesn’t let much hold them back. They were known for being so abrasive during live shows that they got kicked off a few stages during their run together. On these two albums, the instruments boom and thrash, as if they destroyed their equipment after every song that was recorded. This energy translates onto the album, and makes even the more low-key tracks a bit more sonically exaggerated.

Nobody can accuse Dust of hanging onto a particular sound and milking it. They can be loud and pompous, and then go the ballad route within the course of two tracks. “Thusly Spoken” and “Learning To Die” are the best duo to engage in this contrasting nature. The former is a soft piano/strings jam primed for radio consumption, while the latter is an adventurous prog epic with a dark tilt.

The name value to Dust is Marky Ramone. Those that know him just from the Ramones may be shocked at his dominating performance on these two albums. He’s more John Bonham than a punk icon. His drumming is wild; at points, it’s like Bonham or Keith Moon entered the studio and slammed away on the skins. Being surrounded by equally talented musicians further elevates Bell’s playing, and the trio is a strong group as songwriters and performers.

It’s a shame that they didn’t last beyond their second album. Dust was released in 1971, and Hard Attack dropped a year later. They weren’t long for this world after that, disbanding and breaking off to other projects. It’s a testament to their longevity that there's interest in putting out these two records again after so many years. The remastering boosts these songs up, and really shows some of the intricate details to their sound (the bass guitar, in particular).

Though these albums didn’t succumb to the fallacies of limited pressings or hard-to-obtain copies, having both of them on one disc should be appreciated. Seventy-five minutes of early ‘70s metal can be a bit much for today’s listeners, but the quantity of variety present makes the hour and fifteen minutes fly by. For providing a new audience a chance to experience one of the early roots of heavy metal, Hard Attack/Dust gets the nod for this week’s Retro Recommendation.

“Learning To Die” Video