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Artist: Rites Of Ash |
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Hailing
from Washington D.C. Rites of Ash might be a name that has slipped past
you, but with three albums under their belt and numerous MTV shows
featuring the bands music, you’d think they would have a record label
crawling all over them, but sadly they seem to be a victim of today’s
music biz where talent is overshadowed by the "now"
factor. Trends come and go and year after year good music and
bands are being swept aside for 15 minute wonders. Andy Warhol may
have said everyone will have their fifteen minutes of fame, but really
do some of them deserve it, when hard working bands like Rites of Ash
and many others like them are forced into the underground scene.
Yes metal has never been trendy, but would we really want it to be?
while in the same breath, it deserves respect. Well
that's was my rant for the year over with, now back to the album.
‘Like Venom’ is an apt title as this album sure has a bite that may
be poison to some but is blood to others. The
album is modern rock and metal of the highest calibre. It's heavy,
it's melodic and it's gonna sweep you off your feet with its power and
eclectic mix of styles. From the likes of Linkin Park, the
punkyness of Zebrahead, the popyness of Billy Joel on acid, the skater
rock of Blink 182 and the style of Mall favourites, UK’s Dear
Superstar ... and much more! I told you eclectic in the most extreme
meaning of the word. Things
get underway with ‘Only Human’, a real powerhouse opener with
vocalist 80-two leading the way, while the multifaceted Lazzo lays down
the fiery guitars, as well as keyboards and programming, all the while
the backbone of the band the rhythm section of Lumer and Berry power out
the drums and bass respectively. The
skater punk vibe is carried on with the fantastic rocking
‘Redemption’, as 80-two adds a little voice box distortion to
proceedings, while Lumer and Berry carry the beat and Lazzo delivers a
monster guitar worthy of any top notch rocker. Things
take a little bit of a side step as the band delivers the very
commercial rocker ‘Toxic’. If this was released as the single
I’m sure the labels would come knocking on the bands door. It's
time for another twist as the band bring the heat big style with
‘Burn’, the heaviest track of the album so far, more metal than
skater punk, containing big licks, growls and grunts, a metalheads wet
dream. The
band put a spin on electro pop metal with the excellent ‘Deathside of
Hollywood', one of my favourite tracks off the album. Very much in
the Veins of Jenna mode. Then it's back to the pop metal side with
‘Three’, again with Lumer delivering the goods on the guitar, with
80-two equal to the task with a HIM styled vocal. The
heavier side of the band is once again touched on with ‘The
Sleeper’, a modern rocker that again would go down a storm with
today’s young rock fans, as well as a few of us oldies! Speaking
of the youth of today, they would love the funky metal vibe of ‘Dis’,
it's Manson meets Papa Roach vibe will have them rocking the mosh pits
for sure. The
band bring the metal big style with the monster ‘Breathless’, before
really pushing the boundaries of skater rock with the excellent
‘Weight Of My World’, before the album closer and all out track of
the album ‘Hand Grenade Heart’, talk about leaving the best till
last. |
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Tracklisting: 1. Only Human |
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All content copyright of The Mayfair Mall Zine unless otherwise stated. |
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