Suddyn have landed an epic tune with "Letting Go" after the chart success of "Gravity" this is one band on a fantastic writing streak "Letting Go" has a soft rock melodic groove with some excellent lyrics and anthem feel chorus that would shake the airwaves of todays radio, so grab the love of your life and slow set to this song.....
Review by T.Halpin
RANK: ****** 6 out of 6
RADIO CITY DUBLIN 25th oct 07
Ep launch
The atmosphere on the night was electric when Suddyn hit the stage they hit it with pure explosive passion. The flow of rhythm coming from the piano was played with some classical feel and blending tones. The front man Alan sure was worthy of the grasping presence you could hear from his vocals, his voice was very expressive with a lot of passion in them. Jarrett the guitar player showed off some great moves and played some cracking riffs with a very melodic approach to the songs, I really like his originality very bluesy style but keeping it commercial, The bass player Colly has a real upbeat punk style and can hold the backbone melodies that you can feel from Suddyn. As for Bren on drums he pulled of a stormer of a solo on the night you could here the styles of John Bonham mixed in with Art Blakey super stuff, this is one band on the scene you have to see live, hats of to Suddyn great show.
“Uplifting melodic rock with the world at their feet Suddyn have hit the spot with this tune full of inspiring guitar and synth melodies, vocals have a great subtle tone and feel to them with some great catchy lyrics, Gravity has a pull with a addictive soundvery well mixed and arranged superb stuff.”
My roots are from a classic rock background, so Wexfords' Soma State are up my particular alley. They play some particularly pleasing (on the neck muscles) kick ass rock choons that find themselves somewhere around the Audioslave, Pearl Jam or a non rapping RATM vibe. What I like particulalry is the willingness to mix up some new metal and classic rock ideas and influences rather than resort to cliche or aping those that have gone before, making their own stamp. The latest track, 'Lies', is tight and muscular and riffs along with a carefully balanced mix of power and aggression. Other tracks (available on their Myspace) are more upbeat and looser, such as 'Mistake' and 'Lose Myself' which bang along with some considerable authority and energy, headed up by the belting, if rather buried vocals of Mark O'Connor who carries himself with the quality of a more seasoned rock frontman - a fine set of pipes fella!
On a technical point, the tracks on offer are all top drawer but pretty well dominated by the volume of the bass guitar which (especially in 'Lies') as highly competent a bassist that Conor is, its too much. Its almost overshadowing the excellent work going on around it. When the bass is louder than a great singer like Mark - its time to pull that slider down on the desk a bit! Its just a mix thing.
In the world of "guitar rock", the term 'heavy metal' has been hijacked by the Kerrang & Metal Hammer crowd for their own purposes or there's those nice young emo boys... therefore leaving a huge void amongst those of us who don't actually want to wear eyeliner or have machine-gun bass drums banging off your skull. Soma State have retaken that middle ground with some aplomb and have injected some freshness and new ideas to make heavy rock original and viable again. More please
Here's a conundrum when is a band not a band.... Or at least this is what I was getting my head round when I was checking out Scarlet Emerald from Cookstown who are a band, or maybe two bands, or maybe a project or a bit like a Swiss army knife its a combination of things. Well I don''t know the answer to be honest, but let me explain. It seems that in the studio there are some rather chunky and melodious classic rock choons going on, performed almost entirely by the 'bands' centre-piece 'Rocky', who appears to play, well, just about everything on the tracks, as well as chipping in with some vocals backed up by Kathy Ruddy on guitar and vocals, although there appears to be a further roster of session musicians who join in for live work. It sounds like a complicated arrangement to me, but hey, if it works for you, why the hell not?
So what does this amalgam of people sound like? If you like your classic rock in the Motley Crue and Van Halen style, you'll like this. It drives and bounces, it makes the guitars work hard - 'Thoughts (of a murderous lover)' is a belter. Scarlet Emeralds fella Rocky is clearly a very accomplished guitarist and a good writer of shredding rock tunes, just witness the solo on 'Thoughts' - its top drawer. Rocky (as well as playing the instruments) shares the lead vocal with Kathy, and frankly, overshadows her. When Rocky's vocals kick in on their tracks it leaves you wondering why he doesn't take the lead throughout, because while Kathy maybe a good foil for his work, her lead vocals aren't nearly a match for his - but I guess he's got enough on his plate already. Personally, I would love to hear more tracks along the lines of 'Thoughts,' its absolutely rockin!
The second track 'Stay another hour' is described as new and really doesn't live up to 'Thoughts'. Its slow and meanders through a mix of ideas that don't gel particularly well and sounds decidedly unfinished and in need of some TLC to me (although congrats to whoever supplied the thumping drums - right up my street that). It has some promise but I wouldn't be posting it anywhere just yet
Yer man Rocky, who appears to be the engine of Scarlet Emerald, is a potential talent who has a good ear and eye for some good old, kick ass rock n roll. Of the two tracks I've heard there are some great ideas and you find yourself rooting for them, although the execution does let it down in places. Overall an interesting start, which promises much, I shall look forward to more and see where it goes.
StephenLive. Yes that's the entire name. A bit quirky, but that's quite a suitable for adjective for Stephen - if I may be so bold as to shorten the name - who hails from Cardigan and writes and performs his own acoustic folk songs. The one track I have, "all the same" which is just Stephen and his guitar plucking. Its a delicate and thoughtful ballad with a sound that sits somewhere between James Taylor and early Bob Dylan in style and lyrics not a kick in t he pants off Chris De Burgh. The song, truth be known, is pretty basic and Stephen's vocal manages to stay within itself and doesn't pretend to be anything more than it is, which is fairly quaint but ordinary. It's his personality and belief in his song though, that warms through like fire embers on a winter morning and you find yourself listening wistfully to the end (take note X Factor wannabes, you don't have to show off to get a song across). It would be nice to hear something more uplifting and confident, further down the road but for now StephenLive has a nugget of gentle song-writing that should be encouraged and worked on.
A five piece band from the UK with a bright sound and very commercial tunes I have had the pleasure of reviewing a three track demo from there forthcoming EP due out in 08 although many UK bands seem to relish on indie rock and follow the footsteps of many British idols Satellite State have embraced a sound with more of an Australian sound like Crowded House and mixed it with there own home grown flavor,
One small step – very laid back with a cool kick to the melody the vocals are very relaxed the tune has a real nice and crisp feel with some good arrangement in the mix.
Clockworks – the vocals in this song really jump out at you with elements of folk to them branding a pop tune but sound great, there is a nice cool drum line in this track with a cool eerie guitar hanging in the background this tune is definitely a spinner.
Carry your own weight – the acoustic guitar brings this tune in with the vocals, this is were Satellite State show true passion in there writing every instrument has perfect executionover the melody, dragging out the chorus give this tune a real anthem feel to the song and works very well.
This is one entertaining EP from a four piece band from Ireland experimenting on sound in each track with thumping drum sounds and electric guitar moments, this band have started a cult of there own with the release of The Ho! Ho! Ho! Stamp, you will not find a dull moment in any track each song has a different style with tricky melodies and weird chord changes the elements of punk and popped up grunge are to be heard with exciting tones to make your hair stand on end.
Seneca eases quite a safe sound with both of these tracks. ‘Smile’ is a soft song, while the style becomes more assured and balanced in ‘So Beautiful’ with fuller sounds and a little more drama to the technique.
The smooth vocals are easily associated with this style. Overall the songs lack much of the momentum needed for single release.
From Ireland and you would not think so, he formed Those Handsome Devils back in the 80's and moved on to release this compelling album of 50's style rock n roll covers with 13 tracks of a great selection of pure rhythm and blues magic, The image the vocals and the playing style Seannie has it to a tee, he does a great version of 20th Century Boy on this album amongst many others but this one stuck out most to me with his unique vocals and guitar strumming with passion he rips this tune a new ass hole excellent stuff, The King and Eddie Cochran meet Seannie Foy. looking forward to hearing some of his original music I hear is due for release pretty soon.
HERE IS A REVIEW OF SOME TRACKS FROM A PUNKED UP ROCK BAND FROM DERRY/IRELAND
SECOND LOOK
Upbeat cheeky punk tune with a love song for a chorus, a nice feel this tune has with some good vocals and lyrics to back it up
VOICE IN MY HEAD
This song has a great rumble in the beat when it kicks in keeping up the beat the singer carries the vocal pretty well, with some great gutair melodies in the mix.
ON THE OUTSIDE
Good tone's coming from this tune with some great strings in the background and the tune kicks like a 80's rock anthem and brings the song to it's peak with a cool gutair solo, vocals sound fantastic.
A VERY EXCITING INDIE BAND FROM DUBLIN- THIS BAND BRINGS INDIE BACK TO ITS PEAK WITH DIVINE TUNES AND EXCELLENT MELODIES OLD SCHOOL INDIE AT ITS BEST!!
LOVE IS DEAD- Vocal is the center of this melody, a nice chill out indie feel, great lyrics and vocal, keys in background working in harmony with the whole feel of the song, great.
