Page 35 - Black Velvet Rock Magazine Issue 102

BV102 albums pg1_BV102 pg35 29/09/2019 01:20 Page 1

BlackVelvetMagazine.Com - 35
YYYYY Excellent YYYY Very Good YYY Good
YY Listenable, Just Y Poor

seat to ‘watching the world and a ‘can do’ attitude. Mu- inspiring lyrics. ‘Dreamful’ Bennington, while the soar-
burn’ with its musical back- sically, the electronic sound in its entirety is a solid EP ing ‘Mary’s Crying’ is a so-
ground could very well set is still around, but not at the packed with a variety of cial commentary on the
the globe ablaze and the forefront as much as it has sounds and all songs are state of the world we are
band continues to shine been during a couple of packed with metaphors of living in today. With ‘The
with surefire hits 'Drown' their previous releases - thought. Space Between Shadows’
and 'Low Life' which are they’ve got the balance just YYYY Stapp has delivered an
poised to become immedi- right. The fist-pumping Sara Ashton album that is guaranteed to
ate highlights of their future ‘Legendary’, ‘You Ain’t strike a chord with anyone
live sets and 'Stoning The Ready’ and ‘Never Going who listens to it; after all,
Devil' is a dark, sludgy slice Back’ are amongst the we have all been through
CROBOT of grunge that wouldn't be heavier songs, aggressive painful times in our lives,
MOTHERBRAIN out of place on a greatest but catchy. Talking about times where we are seek-
(MASCOT) hits record by Alice In depression and battling ing hope and reason.
If you have no prior Chains. There is no respite with your inner demons, Every song on here is well
knowledge of or familiarity from the power of the riff ‘Victorious’ and ‘Save Me’ executed and nicely pol-
with Crobot, it will take less throughout 'Motherbrain', are both open and honest. ished; it’s a great collection
than 30 seconds of listen- it's one headbanger after There are many powerful of work that shows Stapp is
ing to their latest work, another. 'Alpha Dawg' and and emotive moments and winning the fight against
'Motherbrain', for the Amer- 'The Hive' get a little lost in ‘Anchor’ is definitely one of his demons.
ican rockers to not only for- the shuffle with their calmer them. This tender moment SCOTT STAPP YYYY
mally introduce themselves pace, although the more will touch you, even if you THE SPACE BETWEEN Penny Gower
but to tell you exactly what upbeat 'After Life' offers a choose not to believe in THE SHADOWS
they are all about. For nice change of tone and is any kind of God or religion. (NAPALM)
those new to the Crobot a real highlight of 'Mother- The songs on ‘Victorious’ Scott Stapp’s battle
party, the band has always brain'. serve to remind you that with mental health and ad-
been about their riffs but YYYY life is never going to be diction has been well-pub-
here they have taken this Michael Coventry easy, you are going to go licised over the years. Five
talent and ramped things through times that test you years ago he had a psy-
up significantly and this is and drag you down. Never chotic breakdown which
immediately apparent from give up and never give in. was shared on social
the opening seconds of Live your life in the best media for all to witness.
'Burn' which sets the tone way you can. If you some- Stapp was clearly at rock
for the rest of 'Motherbrain', times need help in remind- bottom; his career, relation- BLACKRAIN
a record not just bursting at ing yourself of that, ships and even his life - he DYING BREED
the seams with riffs but one ‘Victorious’ is the sound- could have lost it all. (SPV/STEAMHAMMER)
which is packed full of track you should listen to. Thankfully, with help, Stapp In title track and
heavy, punishing, addic- YYYY has climbed out of that opener ‘Dying Breed’, the
tive, head-banging, cre- Penny Gower black hole and into a place French foursome set out
ative and memorable riffs. of clarity and light. It is their inspiration for their lat-
The guitar work of Chris SKILLET INAIR noted that ‘The Space Be- est slab of unapologetic
Bishop is top drawer VICTORIOUS DREAMFUL tween The Shadows’, the hard rock. Surrounded by
throughout the 11-song (ATLANTIC) (INAIR) third solo effort from the ex- electro music and RnB and
album but he receives per- For the first time in British alternative rock Creed frontman, is a mani- reflecting on the deaths of
fect support from bassist their career, frontman John band InAir are back with festo of lessons learned in various rock icons in recent
James Lascu and Dan Cooper and guitarist / key- their latest EP entitled the past few years. When it years, they see themselves
Ryan on drums who collec- boardist Korey Cooper car- ‘Dreamful’, which is packed comes to lyrics, Stapp is as “the last of our kind”. So
tively bring great ferocity ried out most of the with infectious-sounding never one to shy away they’re fighting back, an-
and impact to his work, so production work for Skillet’s melodies and vocals meant from baring his soul; that is nouncing that “we’re still
much so that the vocals of tenth studio release them- for empowering. This is exactly what he has done standing” and going back
Brandon Yeagley briefly selves. Upon listening to particularly true of ‘Talk To here too. Singing about to their early days and writ-
take a back seat to the Skillet’s latest body of You’ which has longing/raw how his past shaped him; ing the sort of music they
music. But don't be fooled work, John and Korey, vocals. The song in its en- finding purpose in life and want to hear on the radio,
into thinking his contribu- alongside Jen Ledger tirety is fierce as it is carried making changes to turn a like the upbeat and infec-
tions to the record are an (drums) and Seth Morrison by a solid backing instru- life of pain and darkness tious ‘Rock Radio’. This
afterthought as history may (lead guitar), have excelled mental. The songs ‘Control’ around. His words are means a collection not just
well look back at 'Mother- themselves. The album’s and ‘Regress’ both start meaningful and resolute. of radio-friendly catchiness,
brain' as the turning point in title sums up how the quar- softer and develop into Powerful songs like ‘Pur- but also harder edged
Crobot's career as the time tet should be feeling with something heavier. ‘Con- pose For Pain’ and ‘Sur- tracks like ‘Hellfire’ and
they got a lot more serious. the end result - ‘Victorious’. trol’ carries a rather whim- vivor’ bring a little ‘Public Enemy’. ‘Hellfire’ in
Just as much as the album This new collection of sical intro, which then heaviness as well as opti- particular has terrific grind-
is chock full of meaty and songs takes on a more in- cleverly progresses into mism; ‘I stand here, a sur- ing rhythms and a
magical riffs, the songs are trospective view. When you something heavier – it vivor’, he sings during the sparkling guitar solo.
also rammed with numer- see that the tracklisting in- seems to be a song of con- latter. On these tracks, and There’s also a power ballad
ous thought-provoking and cludes titles such as ‘Leg- templation. The intro of throughout the rest of the in ‘All Angels Have Gone’,
inspirational lyrics and sub- endary’, ‘Victorious’ and ‘Chemicals’ is a particular album, you can hear that which has a huge, stadium-
ject matter, and this too ‘Rise Up’, if you get a favourite, it is emotive from Stapp is back in action and blasting sound. This is an
gives the songs so much hunch that you’ll be hear- the get-go and the vocals stronger than ever. There album that is a tribute to
more substance and in the ing songs that will both mo- are particularly strong are melodic moments too, rock. It’s not particularly
long run makes them more tivate and move you, you throughout. ‘Life Finds A found in the heartfelt groundbreaking in style,
enjoyable and likely to be will not be wrong. The lyrics Way’ appears to be the ‘Heaven In Me’ and ‘Wake but it is well-written, well-
ones you'll return to. The do take you to darker most thought-provoking. Up Call’. ‘Gone Too Soon’ performed, and a great lis-
aforementioned 'Burn' is a places at times, but con- The song itself is mystical is another beautiful ballad, ten.
brilliant opener, Brandon's tinue on the path of Skillet’s and calming, a song of inspired by the deaths of YYYY
cries of taking a front row trait of promoting positivity hope and redemption with Chris Cornell and Chester Clare Huckett
ALBUMS