Label: Black Tragick
Records/Doom Bat Records
Atomic Drag is run by Lee McDaid, who is a solo musician from Northern Ireland. I reached out to him regarding all his work, and he kindly granted me access to his entire catalog on Bandcamp.
The Rave from the Grave EP came out around Halloween in 2024, and based on the cover art, title, and tracks, it looks as though he hit the mark.
The title track “Rave from the Grave” gets the blood pumping (no pun intended). Right away, there are the melodic, twangy guitar lines, and the bass is heavy and strong. A nice transition is made with some melding guitar lines, then the organ joins in to accentuate the creepiness of the concept we are focusing on here. Things come to a head towards the end, with everything merging.
“Dogman Vs. Dobhar-chú” moves at a frenetic pace with rapid picking, and bass and drums pair up to keep that intensity as Lee takes that pick and goes down the strings from top to bottom for that wow effect. It all happens so fast, but that is the idea; this is a fight between creatures of the unknown.
“Once a Dead Man...” stretches things out for over three minutes. There is more time to establish all his ideas within a single track, and he does so effectively. The atmosphere is one of spookiness and anticipation. The organ gives it that horror edge as he adds some talking to the mix, so you get the feeling you are watching it on the big screen. Excellent track!
“Beyond the Valley of the Drag” maintains the EP’s continuity with nonstop energy. This is yet another fast mover with all the trimmings, rapid picking, punctuated guitar placement, the bottom end moving along just as quickly, and that tremolo guitar work and the creepy organ notes are for the final touch. It’s all there in one potent package.
Atomic Drag’s Rave from the Grave EP is more than just an adventure-packed instrumental; it’s a vivid, cinematic journey that exhibits the power of one artist’s vision. Lee McDaid’s ability to craft such dynamic and immersive tracks on his own is nothing short of remarkable. This EP doesn’t just entertain you from the first note and refuses to let go, leaving a lasting impression long after the final track ends.
Keith
“MuzikMan” Hannaleck-Surf Music and Art Founder
March
2, 2026
Tracks:
1. Rave from the Grave 02:21
2. Dogman Vs. Dobhar-chú 02:01
3. Once a Dead Man... 03:26
4. Beyond the Valley of the Drag 02:19
