Showing two sides of and the extensive diversity within his sound, Alex Von Z is unleashing a gem of an EP stroke album which is as accomplished and incendiary to the passions as you could wish from any release. Combining the four track Implicate Order EP and the three track single Life’s Addiction, which first made their appearances in October and December respectively last year, the release is a thrilling and impressive blend of melodic rock and aggressive metal shaped rock n roll.
Alex Von Z (Alex Seleznov) comes from Aurora, Colorado and has spent years investigating and discovering his spiritual and musical progression resulting in the two releases which now are combined into one exhilarating package. Varied and exuberant with a craft to his musicianship and songwriting which is irresistible, Alex combines multiples flavours with stated influences coming from the likes of 3 Doors Down, Eddie Vedder, John Lennon, Blind Melon, Collective Soul, Chris Cornell, Counting Crows, Billy Joel, Matisyahu, Buckcherry, Tesla, System of A Down, and many more. The result is songs which impact musically and lyrically, music which rather than make demands requests and invites passionate union with a presence and warm touch so easy to greedily devour, whether it is offering a melodically soaked seduction or holding a more caustic and aggressive stance.
The Implicate Order part of the release is a gentler companion to its partner but no less impressive, the songs a mix of 
acoustically led and melodically persuasive pop rock, for want of a better term. With tracks taken from the upcoming album of the same name, it lights up the senses with contagious recruitments for voice, senses, and passions. Opening track Drawn starts with shimmering sonics before immediately opening its melodic arms to embrace in an acoustic cored smouldering piece of melodic elegance. The clean tones of Alex add to the warm ambience and by the time the first run of the chorus comes in the song has enlisted gleeful participation and addicted attention. As it stretches its stride with ardour seizing melodic flames and classic rock whispers expanding the strength and lure of the song, it is impossible not to be wholly enamoured with the enterprising treat on offer and anticipation for the songs to follow heightened.
What It Should Be steps up next with a more ballad like breath though there is still a underlying keenness almost urgency to excite the listener, something it does with ease. The temptation of the keys and again classic rock toned guitar reaps and gives further reward from the song whilst its smooth and compelling again is an easy consumption increasing the already brewed hunger for the release. The track does not quite reach the pinnacle of its predecessor but still makes a very strong declaration as does the excellent Chocolate Covered Karma, a rock n roll riot of invention which has loud whispers of a Buckcherry or Motley Crue to it. Like the others even with its sturdier swagger, the track is virulently infectious and stirs the passions with the ear catching guitar craft from Alex which spirals within the rampaging eagerness of the sounds. All three songs have a familiarity to them which enforces their tempting hook upon the emotions and senses, but a recognisable element which brings the listener into the heart of the pieces like old friends enjoying new escapades. Completed by the full version of Drawn, a track which it is impossible to tire of whatever its length, it is a richly enjoyable and impressive first part.
The Life’s Addiction portion of the release, featuring songs taken from the Life’s Addiction album, reach into the harder rock heart and musically imposing side of Alex’s songwriting, and quite simply leaves the listener breathless. The title track of this section instantly lets its riffs gnaw on the senses whilst harsher flames of guitar and rhythmic intimidation seize their moments with strength. The vocals are still the impressive clean smooth style which transfers into the more imposing arena with accomplished ease whilst imagination is rife within the song, arguably more so here than in the mellower tracks before. Guitar invention and its finely crafted delivery is almost siren like in its pull and bewitching magnetism within the song, and the overall attack stirring and rampant with a slight wantonness to its inducement. Once finished with the emotions the song passes over to the stunning Rise and Fall, a track pulling progressive rock and classic metal into a dazzling tempest of crafted intensity and explosive heavy rock hunger. The most inventive and imaginative song of the whole release with striking musicianship to match, it swaps some of the infectiousness of earlier songs for a potent weave of thought grabbing brilliance with equal impact in its distinct stance.
Completed by What About Me, another outstanding burst of hard rock with a carnivorous greed to its energy and play, the whole package is a sensational introduction to an artist which blends artistic craft and imagination into sounds and songs which you want to hear and hear constantly, their epidemic like hold on the passions as intense as the invention breeding them. An outstanding release from a fantastic artist, enough said.
https://www.facebook.com/AlexVonzmusic
9/10
RingMaster 20/04/2013
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