Sovereign CD Review

    Sovereigns new CD gives a toe-tapping and head-bobbing appeal while luring the listener to wistfully daydream of sweet days gone by mixed with a new-age of current desires.

     What does that mean? Basically they have a bit of a classic late 80s early 90's grind in Mark Hughey's percussion and Robert Clayton's rhythm, yet the poppiness of the lyrics carry a heavy edge as does the raw violent passion in Michael Yarnell's voice. Keoni Rogers fluid fingers on the guitar and funky twist in Austin Hart's bass is what adds a more alternative yet melodious and yearning quality to their music. 

     That so much talent can come from this one particular group is undeniable, as "Follow", "Far From Home" and "Who I Am"s live recordings show the originality, depth and symmetry of musical art in action. The slow starting rhythm of  "Fickle" quickly picks up pace only to slow it down again while Yarnell's voice woos and serenades. Gaining similarity as the song goes on, the end surprises as Yarnell whispers just before the rhythm and Roger's heavy riffs amp it up again. 

   A song sure to get you addicted is "Last Meal" which starts off heavy and wicked, with erotic overtones and hip-swaying rhythm. Yarnell's voice hits a core of vibrancy with sex appeal and rich baritone power as Roger's strumming drives in deep to hit the metal spot. Hughey's percussion is simple; steadily rising and falling to the rhythm or lead guitar parts, but still solid in precision and boom.

   Recommended for the lovers of hard rock with a metal lining and "feel good" intercepts, Sovereign's new "Change" CD will give classic and modern rockers what they are looking for.

http://www.sovereignrocks.com/

    

Enduval

     Enduval is an impressive group. Starting out fast and furious with one song, or slow and entreating the next, the group has a hard metal sound that reverberates with melancholic dreaminess. "Fight the World" delivers a thrashy sound to start, then breaks into a soulful chorus, reminiscent of hard thrash band Five Finger Death Punch, while after a couple minutes into the song mix it up with almost 311 style strumming adding to the diversity of the music.

     Billy Maulings and Charles Manuel know how to rock it intensely with fluid and talented exchange as Chris Meyer's bass laces their play with a funky tone here and there, adding some variety and fullness. Their song "Wait" is a good example of that, as the vocals of Josh Krone's pleasant tenor has a yearning quality and gives a passionate projection.

     "The One to Change' carries a familiar guitar intro and chorus and sounds similar to their other songs, save for the whispers, reminding of the progressive group, Opeth, a bit in style and arrangement. Ryan Aldrege's percussion is dynamic and energetic, talented and focused; heavy one part, soft and light others, with a rocky flourish.

     As impressive as Enduval is, a bit more variety of vocal range and octave would add to the richness of the music, and encouragement is only needed in the area of keeping an original sound in the musical arrangement.This group has just about everything it needs to take them to the top in the local music arena and beyond.

     Special note to the Ugly Mug Tavern, whose fantastic sound system and above average floor size makes it all the more better!

    

     Photos taken by Arielle Beckham

 

Enduval on Reverb Nation 

One Eye Open

  Thrash and metal, perfect for the ultimate headbanger, is the mainstay of heavy rock band "One Eye Open."

     Unusual for a thrash group are the vocals of OEO's singer, Lucky. Not your typical thrash metal vocals where there's only one sound (generally one tone demonic screaming), Lucky uses inflection and a variety of vocal range, doing what a good singer should do at least some of the time--sing!

     Percussionist, Foot, is fast moving and more than keeps up with the music, not an easy feat given the rapid pace. What one wants one gets: slamming double and triple beats, clanging symbols and lusty drum rolls. Arc Angel lays on the heavy sound of bass while Brando Riordan gives the quick riffs of the true thrash grunge artist.

     Ear-splitting they are not, no indeed, as there is obviously a lot of thought that went into the making of the music. "Fascial Lacerations/Morphine" starts off slow with eerie vocals and then blasts into a heavy chorus and full on screaming, along with car wrecking type sounds and breaking glass. "Soul" begins with riffs hard rock riffs as soon as the lightening speed percussion, insane guitar and demon ghoul screams kick in.

     One Eye Open is for the thrash metal fan and anyone else who wants a faster change of pace. Whether feeling frisky, deliriously happy, full of rage or just plain aggressive, OEO definitely hits that M-spot (metal-spot) and is a great group to see live. Warning: fits of moshing are to be expected!

To hear OEO for yourself, go to http://www.myspace.com/oeo666

Get your Nukl-deep into Classic Metal!

  Nukldeep, a relatively new-on-the-scene rock group that takes you back in time with their classic 80's sound yet with original tracks, played their third live show at The Highlife Friday the 12th.

     Ron Blair rocked it impressively from the start with a tight bass, giving some funky style one song and a hard heavy twang the next that flowed throughout the music with upbeat flicks. The guitar solos (Butch Espanol) were also energizing in their classic rock style mixed with newer hard rock sounds.

     Percussionist Fred Wilkins simple but solid, giving that classic sounding boom, picking up the pace for faster songs, though repetitive and predictable. The vocalist (George Galvin), though involved and looking the part, has a typical rock singing style and would help if he worked on varying his range, and deepening his tone.

     The groups entire musical arrangements remind you of music from earlier generations; the musical layout could use more structure and vision in order to deliver a more diverse sound that would appeal to rockers who want something new. Blues touch on one track in appealing resound and metal inflicts another, yet aren't memorable or captivating in either direction, enjoyable enough yet leaving the listener feeling something more should be coming.

     The music is great for old style rock and roll with a metal edge, and is worthy to be heard. Nukldeep has great potential and dedication and with ingenuity, ambition and imagination could become a reckoning force on the local playing field of hard rock. So get your horns up and make sure to check them out next they play in town!

http://www.nukldeep.com/

Live Concert Review, Assembly Line Gods, Ramada Oasis

   Fire from heaven is burning bright in the form of Assembly Line Gods who are blazing the way into the rock arena of alternative metal.

     ALG will melt your face off with grungy riffs, funky bass, passionate percussion and seductive growls one minute, while wooing you with complex and melodious lyrics the next. Lighting up the music scene in a way you never expected, this band pulls it off without sounding too harsh or thrashy, and delivers hard rock with a melancholic edge.

     David Samples' smooth vocals pour out like molten honey, calming any a rock-weary soul looking for a fresh sound in a saturated genre. Josh Kroeger, bass, and Bronson Cox, lead guitar, play with power and Carson Underwood, percussion, slams his set with god-like force in every song, mixing the typical metal sound with intense diversity.

     Lighting up the stage, this band has high energy and movement: Samples dances around the stage with wild abandonment or theatrical showmanship reminiscent of Jim Morrison from The Doors and Kroeger whips his hair around in heavy metal fashion. Both cast off their shirts, much to the crowd's delight, while Cox nods to their fans with a naughty gleam and a wicked grin, and Underwood rolls his sticks in perfect precision.

     The only thing lacking from their live performance was the additional dynamics and entertainment quality that comes from group interaction, something that seasoned bands capitalize on; however, there was none lacking when it came to rocking and entreating the crowd where their passion, energy, and pure raw talent takes over.

     If there is such a thing as a rock heaven, then Assembly Line Gods are the gate-keepers ushering rockers to a new alternative experience. Simply put a talented band that we'll be hearing more from in the future as their fans excitedly wait for their new CD release.

Assembly Line Gods on ReverbNation

Dreamy and Solid, aMedivm will rock your world!

    November 22, 2010

     Here's a tribute to a melodious group called aMedivm, pronounced short (a) as in uh-Med (long e)-ium. Medieval looks the name, but Medieval does not sound the music, with an eerie grungy twist in their guitar riffs, and haunting Indie style vocals that remind you of foreign 80s metal taking you to another time and place renaissance not of ancient British gore but of mid eastern royalty and new age dignity.

     Body swaying percussion by Paul Napier- drums and percussion, vocals, and enchanting guitar-and  Brandon Closser along with his brother Nathan Kearney play guitar, bass and synthesis as well as vocals- that remind slightly of Vinnie Moore and Satriani but a newer progressive sound surround you and becomes your seventh heaven with erotic tones suggesting seductive qualities. Napier does a fantastic performance on the percussion, and Christian Pearson throws in the erroneous and tantalizing piano along the way and Wesley Mease adds into the background on vocals and "primal" beats for an eclectic sound and harmonious mix.

     AMedivim carries a feel akin to traveling through modern day Bangladesh with nude people wandering all around, and as the opium smoke fills the air you inhale deeply and see the swarming thong with an enlightened eye as you nod your head to the rhythmic sound of Indian rock style chanting with gypsy-progression...no, not really, no opium, that's the music talking and as close to that experience you can get without partaking.

     A bit monotonous at times, with some songs more various than others, a bit more consistency of quality and input from the vocals is left to be desired. There are blasts of soft evil roaring and spooky howling that are most welcome with their dark metal passion that many want to feel and taste. The pulsing roar of malevolence you think you only hear in the movies, with great soundtrack potential, give us goosebumps and suspense; it's music for the metal niche, but a kind that entices hearers across a span of genres.

     Halloween never sounded  so creepy with captivating and wicked metal to play in the background at any given party much to the pleasure of a fiendish audience's delight.  Enjoy the season, enjoy the winding back of time in the autumn glories and fall backwards into aMedivm, a ever living breathing organism that we call musical talent alas an ever-changing and evolving one with which we play long into the night.

Fiera

   So have you heard of Fiera, a hardcore metal band with a methodical sound and brilliant percussion who also perform in glow-in-dark face paint? Dramatic is their stage presence, dramatic is their music that engages the listener in thoughtful and suspenseful enthrall.

     Vocals (Taylor/Matt Nasty) go from throaty and deep to high tenor range, along with the growls and screams we've come to love about metal music. A bit weak at times, but with an entreating lure, yet pleasant enough on the ears with focus and direction.

     This group rocks down the house with heavy dark metal guitar sounds (John, Cody, and Matt), and the percussion (Philly) is fantastic: building up the pace in perfect synchronicity with the music, triple rolls play out in beautiful precision and enchanting rhythms reverberate in a passionate display.

    There is no stereo-typing this band as typical thrash, Fiera plays it slow and fast, with a variety of tunes that extend beyond the assumptions one has of most heavy metal groups and that appeal to a variety of rock enthusiasts. "Undone" goes from reflective almost Metallica like acoustic tones to a heavy thrashy head banging blast of dark sound and appeal.

     Not to be outdone by other popular local metal bands, Fiera has an energy that seems to pour out of their being into their instruments as each member gives it all he has to their art and performance. Seeing their faces a glow in ghoulish war paint makes it clear that they intend to melt your face off with a furious rock experience you won't soon forget.

   Written by Arielle Beckham

     http://www.myspace.com/music/9237256/songs/7328815