Big Dismal: Eric Durrance (vocals, guitar); Chuck Shea (guitar); Gary Sobol (bass); Jeff Chomin (drums).
Additional personnel: Amy Lee (background vocals).
Recorded at Ocean Way, Hollywood, California.
Personnel: Robbie Buchanan (strings); Jeff Chomin (drums); Lenny Castro (percussion); Amy Lee (background vocals).
Audio Mixer: Jack Joseph Puig.
Recording information: Ocean Way, Hollywood, CA.
Photographer: Randi Berez.
Unknown Contributor Role: Big Dismal.
Big Dismal is a Florida-based quartet with a straightforward post-grunge sound drawing equally from the rock of Creed and 3 Doors Down as well as the Goo Goo Dolls and the band's strong Christian faith. Believe, their debut for Wind-Up, is heavy on the emotive vocals of vocalist Eric Durrance, who also contributes a ringing acoustic guitar to many of the album's ten tracks. The record will certainly appeal to those who like their post-grunge with a Christian bent. ~ Johnny Loftus
Big Dismal is a Florida-based quartet with a straightforward post-grunge sound drawing equally from the formulaic rock of Creed and 3 Doors Down, as well as the Goo Goo Dolls and the band's strong Christian faith. Believe, their debut for Wind-Up, is heavy on the overly emotive vocals of vocalist Eric Durrance, who also contributes a ringing acoustic guitar to many of the album's ten tracks. But while the record will certainly appeal to those who like their post-grunge with a Christian bent, it's unclear why music with a message needs to be so incredibly bland. Believe is as one-dimensional as they come, with the charming chorus harmonies of Evanescence's Amy Lee on "Missing You" becoming the album's only left-hand turn. The formula of a chugging alt-metal number followed by an equally chugging yet jangly song tires after the first eight minutes of the album. By the time the good-timing melody of "Too Pretty" arrives, it's acceptable to overlook the song's glaring clichés, if only to lift something else on Believe above the average. ~ Johnny Loftus minimize