DoHM review was pretentious

Matt Gorey proves that the only thing worse than a poor critic is a pretentious critic. As a longtime fan of DoHM [Regional Beat, February 14], I have enjoyed the distinct pleasure of hearing this immensely talented band develop and refine their signature sound. Their musical roots are in metal and rock, but their influences are culled from sources far and wide. Cleveland has justifiably acquired renown as a metal and rock city, so it is most encouraging to hear a band explore musical territory outside of the genre's cliches. If this amalgamation of sounds is pretentious, as Gorey seems to feel, then we could certainly use a little more pretense around these parts. Indeed, the packed Cambridge Room at the House of Blues for DoHM's CD release party suggests many others feel the same. DoHM has allied with other fantastic bands, most notably King, Irreality, The Dr. Teeeth, Watson 387, The Family Riot, and Midnight at the Savoy, in an effort to truly take their music forward. These bands share a dedication to smashing the status quo and creating a sound and a scene that truly belongs to Cleveland. Which is precisely why so many readers were hurt and dismayed by the vitriolic review your paper published. Reviews are opinions, certainly, but a direct and bitter attack on a band's freshman self-produced effort is completely out of line. Perhaps this kind of "criticism" is but one of many reasons that so many of Cleveland's most talented musicians have seen fit to move to New York or L.A. Rather than unleashing the shrill cries of worthless hacks like Gorey upon a burgeoning musical scene, a paper should offer constructive support and discussion of its city's independent artists. After all, the only thing worse than a poor, snotty, angry little rag of a paper in a struggling city like Cleveland is a pretentious... well, you get the idea. Brian Kleve Lakewood