The Winery Dogs Review – “The Winery Dogs”

The Self-Titled Debut

Mike Portnoy may be progressive rock’s most prolific drummer, having launched no less than three bands in the past calendar year (Flying Colors, Adrenaline Mob, and PSMS), in addition to drumming on half a dozen others. However, his newest group The Winery Dogs is much more in the vein of bands like Alice in Chains or Soundgarden. Coupled with Mr. Big vets Billy Sheehan on bass and Richie Kotzen on guitars and vocals, this trio’s self-titled debut is as strong as one would expect, given the talent.

What’s most impressive throughout this album’s 13 tracks is how big the band’s sound is. They certainly earn the moniker of a power trio. While this is to be expected from Portnoy with his thunderous drumming and Sheehan’s fuzz bass, Kotzen’s crunchy guitar work and powerful Chris Cornell-esque voice surprised me. He really sets the tone for the band, with vocals soaring with every catchy chorus. His guitar work is blistering and top notch as well, yet at the same time restrains himself to not be too over-the-top or showy. The solo in “We Are One” (also showing off Portnoy’s insane drumming skills) is especially remarkable.

The album’s opening track “Elevate” sets the table for the rest of the album, featuring a heavy opening riff and a memorable chorus, and a bridge section that really puts the musicianship of each individual member on display. Other standout tracks include “Desire” and “Time Machine,” the latter track reminding me heavily of classic Soundgarden, albeit with a smidge more talent. “The Other Side” also features a thumping Sheehan and Portnoy intro that really gets my adrenaline pumping.

With an introductory album, sometimes balancing ballads and energetic tracks can be an issue. Too much energy or too much of one sound can really ruin the completeness of a record. Thankfully, that’s not the case here, with great ballads like “I’m No Angel” and “Damaged” holding weight with the energy of other more lively tracks. That being said, the album’s final track “Regret” doesn’t seem to fit with the rest of the band’s focus. Maybe it’s the piano that’s featured throughout or the fact that is sounds like every other blues standard, but it seems oddly out of place.

The final track notwithstanding, The Winery Dogs’ self-titled debut is not to be missed by anyone, be it a fan of progressive rock, alt metal, soft rock, or anything in between.

The Final Verdict: The choruses soar, the guitars crunch and the melodies are memorable. A debut not to be missed.

9 out of 10.