Post by thesoundmonitor on Jun 4, 2004 6:31:45 GMT -5
BLACKMAKER
Staggering to the Surface
(Kentland)
Though Blackmaker are not offering anything that hasn’t been done before, the highest of quality has been paid to their brand of energized rock. Leaning on the recent successes of no-frills rock acts such as Nickelback, Tonic and 3 Doors Down, Blackmaker have unleashed a promising debut full-length with passion, integrity, and perhaps most importantly, balls.
Initially Staggering to the Surface is not an album that grabs you by the throat, perhaps due to opening with a relatively bland track in comparison to some of the others display. ‘Revolution’ starts with a funky, scratchy guitar riff that may get the booty shaking in their regular haunt of the House of Blues, but doesn’t translate into an instant hit in the lounge room. That said, the song’s Stone Temple Pilots feel is nevertheless useful as an introduction, choosing not to force-feed the listener at first bite.
‘Spiralling’ is where the album truly kicks off with it’s Our Lady Peace/Moist overtones, whereas it’s successor ‘Let It Go’ calls to mind early to mid-caree Shihad with it’s bombastic rhythms care of Tony Porfirio and Kris Gutrich on bass and drums, respectively. Vocalist Jeff Randall commands attention due to his Jim Morrsion-esque presence and his dry-but-smooth sound, reminding this here listener of the criminally underrated Andrew Gillespie of Scary Mother, while the twin guitar-approach is competently and complimentarily delivered by Reggie Raisner and Mark Grzelak.
‘Novocaine’ would perhaps be the albums highlight with its interesting structural mix of heavy and light guitars, introspective lyrics and urgent beats, occasionally ushering in a wall of noise before fading to a desperate, repetitive black. Meanwhile ‘All About A Girl’ takes a jazzy, relaxed approach, and ‘Still Waiting’ demonstrates the bands’ promising commercial potential.
On the downside, I feel the album is let down somewhat by the lack of immediate hooks that the bigger stadium acts have mastered. While confident, competent, well produced and nicely packaged, the album only occasionally sparks and fastens the listener tight. But then again, inviting the listener to work a tiny bit in coming to terms with the tunes also nurtures a sense of kinship with the songs.
So while Blackmaker will not be dominating the charts anytime soon, Staggering to the Surface is nevertheless a curious listening for those who dig on blues-based riffs with a big American rock sound.
By Warren Wheeler
Artist website: www.blackmaker.com
Staggering to the Surface
(Kentland)
Though Blackmaker are not offering anything that hasn’t been done before, the highest of quality has been paid to their brand of energized rock. Leaning on the recent successes of no-frills rock acts such as Nickelback, Tonic and 3 Doors Down, Blackmaker have unleashed a promising debut full-length with passion, integrity, and perhaps most importantly, balls.
Initially Staggering to the Surface is not an album that grabs you by the throat, perhaps due to opening with a relatively bland track in comparison to some of the others display. ‘Revolution’ starts with a funky, scratchy guitar riff that may get the booty shaking in their regular haunt of the House of Blues, but doesn’t translate into an instant hit in the lounge room. That said, the song’s Stone Temple Pilots feel is nevertheless useful as an introduction, choosing not to force-feed the listener at first bite.
‘Spiralling’ is where the album truly kicks off with it’s Our Lady Peace/Moist overtones, whereas it’s successor ‘Let It Go’ calls to mind early to mid-caree Shihad with it’s bombastic rhythms care of Tony Porfirio and Kris Gutrich on bass and drums, respectively. Vocalist Jeff Randall commands attention due to his Jim Morrsion-esque presence and his dry-but-smooth sound, reminding this here listener of the criminally underrated Andrew Gillespie of Scary Mother, while the twin guitar-approach is competently and complimentarily delivered by Reggie Raisner and Mark Grzelak.
‘Novocaine’ would perhaps be the albums highlight with its interesting structural mix of heavy and light guitars, introspective lyrics and urgent beats, occasionally ushering in a wall of noise before fading to a desperate, repetitive black. Meanwhile ‘All About A Girl’ takes a jazzy, relaxed approach, and ‘Still Waiting’ demonstrates the bands’ promising commercial potential.
On the downside, I feel the album is let down somewhat by the lack of immediate hooks that the bigger stadium acts have mastered. While confident, competent, well produced and nicely packaged, the album only occasionally sparks and fastens the listener tight. But then again, inviting the listener to work a tiny bit in coming to terms with the tunes also nurtures a sense of kinship with the songs.
So while Blackmaker will not be dominating the charts anytime soon, Staggering to the Surface is nevertheless a curious listening for those who dig on blues-based riffs with a big American rock sound.
By Warren Wheeler
Artist website: www.blackmaker.com