Post by thesoundmonitor on Sept 11, 2004 21:18:22 GMT -5
RONIN
The Sun Rises In The East
(Independent)
An Eastern-themed band name and packaging disguise a decidedly Western
stoner/prog musical philosophy.
Bass-driven laid-back verses, usually overlaid by guitar atmospherics, lead
into big and catchy choruses. It is often very effective. ‘Take The Sky’<br>and the final track, ‘America's Free Pt 2 (The Final Feast)’, are probably
the two best examples of the formula paying dividends. The female guest
vocals on ‘Portal’ are a nice addition, too.
Unfortunately it can get a little wearying after a little while, and the
doleful lyrics and faux-majestic tones might come across as overly
self-important, or at least just a bit too serious. You begin to wish
they'd just let their hair down and kick out the jams once in a while.
Still, this album is self-promoted, self-produced, and self-package
designed - this is the sort of gumption and initiative we love to see here
at the Sound Monitor. Hopefully they get the support they need to push on,
as some of the better songs and big riffs in here show more than a hint of
promise.
By Matt Harris
The Sun Rises In The East
(Independent)
An Eastern-themed band name and packaging disguise a decidedly Western
stoner/prog musical philosophy.
Bass-driven laid-back verses, usually overlaid by guitar atmospherics, lead
into big and catchy choruses. It is often very effective. ‘Take The Sky’<br>and the final track, ‘America's Free Pt 2 (The Final Feast)’, are probably
the two best examples of the formula paying dividends. The female guest
vocals on ‘Portal’ are a nice addition, too.
Unfortunately it can get a little wearying after a little while, and the
doleful lyrics and faux-majestic tones might come across as overly
self-important, or at least just a bit too serious. You begin to wish
they'd just let their hair down and kick out the jams once in a while.
Still, this album is self-promoted, self-produced, and self-package
designed - this is the sort of gumption and initiative we love to see here
at the Sound Monitor. Hopefully they get the support they need to push on,
as some of the better songs and big riffs in here show more than a hint of
promise.
By Matt Harris