New Band/ Album Review: Thrillkiller, Time

"There's Something About You

I'm In Too Deep!"

I've said before that the Washington DC and Baltimore areas is a breeding ground for amazing progressive metal. And, it is. But what do you get when you combine the musical talent of a band like Toto with the energy and soul of a band like Extreme? You get the Baltimore heavyweight, Thrillkiller! Although, don't think for a second that I'm saying they sound like anyone. They have their own unique style. They have a great name too, but Thrillkiller may not be the right name for this band. They don't kill ANY thrill. They simply thrill over and over again, never letting up, and you're better for hearing them!

Simply put, this band is incredible. Their four song EP called Time has more energy than a nuclear reactor. And, I'm not exaggerating. You start listening to it, and you'll be hooked. You'll be bobbing your head, and you'll be cheering at the end of each song. And that's just listening to the album! Imagine seeing them live!

All four songs on the EP are loaded with groove, funk, harmony, blistering guitar, earth shaking rhythm section, and great vocals/ vocal harmony. I'm just going to say that right off the bat and apply it to all the songs. However, while nothing sounds the same on the album, Thrillkiller definitely has their own unique style. Track 3  In Too Deep is more of a deep groove with a huge chorus, and a hook that will get stuck in your head in a good way. Track 1, Passion Killer shows us the blues influence on the band, with yet another huge chorus. Track 2, Time is my favorite on the EP. It has more of a metal feel to it than the other tunes, although it is still full of funk influences. The guitar solo is spectacular on this one, with an 80's virtuoso feel to it. And, another huge chorus! Track 4, The Storm is an all out assault on the senses. Its got everything from 80's virtuoso feeling guitar solo to hard and heavy driving power. It would make a great set opener or closer.

Maxim Sobchenko, guitars. Rob Bradley, Vocals

Singer, Rob Bradley is one of the best singers I've had the pleasure of reviewing. He has an amazing vocal range, and can harmonize anything. Its a smooth voice that is powerful in every part of his range. He's also a vocal instructor. Guitarist, Maxim Sobchenko is every bit a guitar god as such funk/rock/metal guitar gods, like Nuno Bettencort. He's amazing. He doesn't play rhythm guitar. Every lick on the EP is a lead of some sort. The two of them are the only permanent members at the moment. They are looking for a bassist and drummer good enough to share the stage with them. However, Matt Bittman  who has worked with bands like Slipknot, Mars Volta, and Imagine Dragons played bass and drums, as well as engineering the album. The band is already playing shows, so keep an eye out for them!

This album is EXTREMELY well done. It sounds every bit as good as; if not better than many of the releases of signed bands. Its probably one of the best sounding indie productions I've ever heard. The music is a clinic on how great music should sound. Rock and metal musicians will love it, but non musicians will love it as well. Its as intricate as progressive rock and metal, but has a commercial feel to it as well. You owe it to yourself to get this one! 

And, here's how to get it:

CD Baby

Bandcamp

Soon to be on Itunes, Amazon, Google, etc.

Social: 

Facebook

Reverbnation

And, we had the band on the Night Time Fiasco as guests a few couple months ago. Click here.
Although the show was called something else at the time.

Tesla: Simplicity

All the 80's Glam and Hair Bands are reforming, and releasing brand new albums. Festival tours are popping up all over the place, and 80's rock and metal is returning from the dead. Yet another one of the legendary 80's bands, Tesla has stormed back onto the scene with their latest, Simplicity. And, in honor of the theme of this album, this will be a simple review. The first track, MP3 is the anthem leading the charge about technology, stating that its taken us from the phonograph record to the MP3.

'Simply' speaking, Simplicity seems like Tesla never took any time off. It falls into succession alongside Mechanical Resonance, The Great Radio Controversy, and Psychotic Supper. Heavy, guitar driven blues and good ol' Rock N Roll. Singer, Jeff Keith sounds like he hasn't aged a week since Psychotic Supper, and Frank Hannon is back with a vengeance on the guitar and the piano. His solos never sounded so good. Drummer, Troy Luccketta and bassist Brian Wheat are solid as ever, and Wheat also rocks out on the Piano duties. Joining them is guitarist, Dave Rude.

Songs on the album are easily the next step in progression from previous albums. For example, the song Cross My Heart is a good soul filled blues jam with piano, and mean guitar, reminiscent of What You Give. Honestly is a nice ballad with great vocal harmonies, that a tribute to those who put others ahead of themselves, and are just a <heard this word before?> 'Simple' man, doing his best in this jungle of a world. Flip Side is another great acoustic jam that slams into a heavy Blues alleyway. My favorite song on Simplicity is Time Bomb. Its heavy, bluesy, raunchy, with a metalized speed demon solo. Its mostly in the vein of Heaven's Trail. 

Tesla successfully kept this album simple, which is something they never had a problem doing. Tesla always had a way of keeping it simple, and not really changing lanes from the music that got them to the top in the first place. 'Simply' put, if you loved Tesla's previous albums, you will love this one too. Buy it!

Frank Hannon, Brian Wheat, Jeff Keith, Dave Rude, Troy Luccketta

I said it would be a simple review, didn't I?

Sugar On The Dashboard..Young Blood in the Dirty South

Your new favorite band?

Rock, alternative, fun and catchy! All words that could describe Atlanta's own 'Sugar on the Dashboard.' Young, and ready to take over, they have already carved out a name for themselves in the ATL. They have headlined their own shows, as well as opened for touring bands. And, they are all in. This is the dream, and they are accepting nothing less than success in the music business, and they bill themselves as "your new favorite band." And, with the talent shown, they very well could be.

They have just completed an EP called Discovery is Dead, and the quality of not only the music, but the recording as well, they are on their way. 

Sugar on the Dashboard are:

Brayden Gomer- Vocals/Guitar

Britt Spurka- Lead Guitar

Austin McEwen- Bass

Ryan Calatayud- Drums

Ryan Calatayud

Britt Spurka

Brayden Gomer

Austin McEwen

They are in their late teens,but their music is mature. They have the positive vibe of The Foo Fighters, and the groove of Social Distortion. However, a wide variety of influences is present in their music that creates a style all their own. From the EP, Mr. Role Model is a defiant statement to false role models who do not live up to their titles..Like athletes and actors maybe? All the songs seem to be a testament of a young man as he emerges into adulthood. Somebody Else for example is exactly that. But, don't think for one minute that these are songs about rebellion and young angst. They are not. The lyrical content shows a level of maturity that is missing in certain bands that are 10+ years older than them. 

But, don't just take my words for it. Keep your eyes open for the band to play in your area. They are planning a tour soon, and as is the case with any young and talented band, they are going to evolve. I expect good things from them in the future, as long as they keep it up, and don't get distracted. I'm not sure what their album title, Discovery is Dead means, but that doesn't matter. Its a cool title, and now that I've mentioned it, it will get you thinking too. Now, its in your head. 

So, get the EP now. Sugar on the Dashboard is a very good band, and you owe it to yourself to check them out. Here is their Soundcloud page Facebook Page and Twitter

Album Review: The Winery Dogs

Elevate me take me higher

I dont want to be wasted

I've got nothing left to lose...

This happens alot to me. I'm late to the party on getting an album. Bands, movies, etc don't feel bad. I'm late on everything. I was the last person on the planet to get a CD player, the last to get a DVD player, the last to get a PC, and the last to get an MP3 player. Its just how I am, I guess. 

Anyway, on to The Winery Dogs. I'd heard all about Them from every musician friend that I know. I was very interested in hearing them. I listed them as an honorable mention on my Top 10 Releases of 2013 post because I had only heard 2 tracks off the album at that time, and I thought if I didn't mention them, my friends might lynch me in the middle of the night. If I had heard the album at the time, they would most definitely be on the list, rather than an honorable mention. 

The Winery Dogs are:

 Richie Kotzen is the guitarist who briefly replaced CC Deville in Poison. I was expecting Mr Big meets Dream Theater with kind of a glam feel. I was wondering why they went with Kotzen. Since he has really been out of the loop for a long time as far as I knew, and his only credit (that I knew of) was being in Poison, I was really skeptical about him. 

Mike Portnoy of course is the original drummer/founder of Dream Theater. One of the best around. Honestly, since being replaced in Dream Theater, he seems really happy based on the interviews and appearances I've seen him in. He has a damn good reason to be happy now, for sure. He has a great band, with a great debut album. Ask me to choose between seeing Dream Theater and The Winery Dogs in concert, and its The Winery Dogs, without even a second thought. 

And the third piece, of course is Billy Sheehan. Bass guitar virtuoso, who played with great guitarists like Steve Vai with David Lee Roth, and Paul Gilbert with Mr. Big. I think that Sheehan was a great guitarist as a kid, but because he grew into such a tall guy, he had to switch to bass because he was more comfortable with it. (That was a lame joke) Seriously, he can do on a bass what lots of guitarists wish they could do on guitar. 

I Underestimated Kotzen. Many people did. What I got was a pleasant surprise. On top of its classic feel, it  has a much more modern feel, balancing influences from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. Also, Richie Kotzen is a phenomenal guitarist, who was either holding back in Poison, or he did lots of practicing since then. The man duels with Sheehan, and some of the solos and song arrangements are nothing short of spectacular. Something you would expect from the virtuoso type guitarists. I listen to this, and I realize that Richie Kotzen is an extremely underrated guitarist. He's a pretty damn good singer too. And of course, Sheehan and Portnoy form one hell of a brutal rhythm section.

I think that the most amazing thing about this album is the fact that 11 of 13 songs were written by Kotzen, Sheehan, and Portnoy collectively. It shows. The other 2 songs; Damaged and Regret were written by Kotzen.

The first song on the album, Elevate has a very uplifting feel and message. It’s a fun song that would make time pass on a long road trip. It is a very good opener for the album because the entire album is that way. The video for Elevate is just the three band members playing, but we see something about Kotzen that sets him apart from lots of other guitarists. He does not use a pic. He uses his fingers like Mark Knoppler. This means that he is fingerpicking or tapping those fast leads that he does throughout the album. And to do that intricate picking while singing is impressive. Time Machine has a kind of dark Deep Purpleesque feel to it. But the solo at the end of the song makes my head explode considering Kotzen is finger picking on it.

While it does have a modern rock/metal feel to it, it also has the feel of metal that has been AWOL since the late 80’s to early 90’s. For example, Damaged is a power ballad, that has roots and influence in 80’s metal, and even a Soundgarden feel, but flows like a ballad that you might hear on the radio today. Not to mention Kotzen’s beautiful guitar solo.

The Winery Dogs basically have all the talent of Dream Theater, but the album much easier to listen to for non musician fans. Yes, this is a 'supergroup,' but one thing I like about this over other recent 'supergroup' outings is that while the songs are brilliant in musical composition, they are easy to listen to. They aren't just each individual member showcasing themselves. All the songs sound different, yet they all have the feel that the same band wrote them. That’s one thing that makes this ‘supergroup’ more appealing to me than others. The Winery Dogs have a chemistry that makes them sound like they have been together as a band for a decade, and I hope they are. I'm waiting for them to come to my area in concert, and I'm already anxiously awaiting their next album. So, if you haven't yet, go pick this one up. You will wear it out.