Kennedy Soundtrack « The RingMaster Review

Sometimes when a band creates a truly eclectic album the collection of songs can become an entangled but unconnected aural web which leaves as much confusion as pleasure. US melodic rock band Reform The Resistance with their debut album The Truth Is Dangerous is a fine example of how it can work and though at rare times the album does venture towards that uncertainty the Nashville based trio overall has created a release which cleanly impacts on the ear, emotions, and thoughts.

The band emerged from the ashes of Phoenix band Justifide which contained Reform The Resistance vocalist/guitarist Jason Moncivaiz and bassist Sambo Moncivaiz. Within two years of the demise of the their former band the duo returned with Reform The Resistance in 2007 with the skills of drummer Ryan Dugger brought in to complete their new vision. There was no rush to the creativity, the evolution of their ideas and sound allowed an organic pace and emergence. The following year saw the band release the …And It Begins EP followed by tours throughout Europe and shows in the US. Once touring finished the threesome began working on The Truth Is Dangerous, completing it in October 2010. Produced by Jason Moncivaiz and recorded in his own studio, the album found its way into the attention of Wuli Records through Doug McBride of Gravity Studios where the album was mastered. This led to the release of the album last year to seemingly constant acclaim from all who discover its charms. With the quality and fine invention of all eleven songs contained within its walls it is no surprise the amount of positive and eager responses it has been receiving, the album being fresh, unpredictable, and most of all openly satisfying.

As mentioned The Truth is Dangerous is brazenly varied bringing to mind the likes of Deftones, Radiohead, Mutemath, Snow Patrol and more. The sound though is distinctive to Reform The Resistance and despite the multiple flavours heard their invention ensures there is never a moment the album truly sounds like someone else and whilst musically they employ various shades of rock from electronica, R&B, punk rock and hip hop to name a few of the spices permeating the whole album everything is a seamless blend.

It opens with the melodic punk fuelled Kill Lies, an eager and formidable track of bristling energy and welcoming anthemic breath. With warm harmonies wrapped around the pulsating muscle of the song the track riles up the ear with a taste of punk to whiffs of hardcore and a rap punk intervention reminding of the likes of the Kennedy Soundtrack. By its end the impressive opener has the ear eager for much more.

Next the band with Tonight We Ride brews up a powerful melodic rock storm. It is restrained in intensity but powerful in emotion and irresistibly captures the imagination with further anthemic strength and compulsion. This is the first twist in the distinct diversity the band brings to the album though it is a nearer companion to its predecessor than later tracks are to their side by side playmates.

Preceded by an expressive instrumental in Depressed But Alive, the enchanting Starlight with a Coldplay like essence and the electronic lined Are You One Of Us Or Are You One Of Them proceed to light up the senses. Both are completely different but both mesmeric and easy to find a connection and rapport with. The latter of the two is an ever shifting piece of invention sweeping from its electro metal like entrance through a melodic release of the heart into a stirring and decisive pleasuring of the ear.

Best song on the album is Mercy In Blood, a song offering an aggressive and striking intensity without losing any melodic and touching harmonic infection. With a distorted finish to energy and sounds the song is a fully engaging and surprising pleasure and is as removed from other tracks as it is their eager companion.

The album brings further good moments as in This Present Darkness and If I Can Survive but it does fail to reach the earlier heights again before it takes its leave. The great variety relinquishing the previously firm connection between the tracks compared to previously. Overall though The Truth Is Dangerous is an impressive album with Reform The Resistance surely on the verge of making a distinct and lingering mark.

http://www.reformtheresistance.com

RingMaster 05/06/2012

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Just when we thought Irish band iBurn had already wrapped up our EP of the year choice even this early in the year, there comes along UK electro metallers Collisions to challenge and make us just think about our choice. Feeling like a bookie who has already paid out on Manchester City winning the English Premiership title a couple of months back, the Brighton quartet has shown that nothing is ever clear cut.

Collisions has unleashed a pulsating mesmeric release that shows UK metal is just as vibrant as any where let alone as that of its Irish counterparts. Consisting of five tracks that exhilarate and incite the senses, Believe In This is a feisty cross breed of metal, electro, punk, and drum n bass that eagerly pulls one to their feet and drills them in the way of having infectious fun. The sounds that burst from the EP are tight, energetic, insatiable, and an infection that one just wants to go deeper and linger.

Formed in 2010 the band took no time in making a mark on their local scene which considering the perpetual health and competition in the Brighton area is a CV marker all on its own. Their impressive sharing of stages with the likes of Senser and Floors & Walls led them through an ever growing attention to headlining their own sold out show at The Hydrant and recently a European tour supporting (Hed)pe. It is hard to imagine anything other than a triumphant explosion of attention coming their way once Believe In This is released on May 7^th, and maybe exploding onto the UK underground metal scene the least they can expect.

The moment the opening Middle Eastern electro vocal chants swarm around the ear on the opening title track the anticipation of something special is rife. A beckoning riff and electro teasing draws one into big meaty riffs and an irresistible energised punk attack. Immediate thoughts are Max Raptor meets Breed 77 and as the song explores and tantalises the senses that feeling is imprinted further with touches of Dub War added to a special flavouring that is all Collisions. The song rampages with great vocals from Olly Simmons over moody distorted riffs that rile up the emotions and rhythms that drive with an excitable but controlled enthusiasm.

If this was the only good song on the release compliance is still a given but the band simply slams their quality home with an even better track in Fire Fire. The track is glorious, a feast of dance rhythms, ragga metal, and punk that leaves one breathless and deeply eager to dive right into it again. There is a definite Skindred stamp to it with essences of Billy Talent and Pendulum for extra spicery. From the tight controlling beats of Will Chapman and the brooding bass of Richard Speaight to the blood boiling riffs and melodic intrusions of guitarist Andy Trewin, the song blisters the ear and sends the senses into blissful spasms. Once more the vocals of Simmons lead the charge magnificently ably backed up by the rest of the band in great group choruses and shouts.

Two down and great heights reached so there has to be a lull or drop in intensity right? Not at all just a change in sound showing the strong diversity the band brings to their music. Chasing Forms begins with an emotive rap metal vocal opening through an atmospheric slow enveloping of the ear, with electro elements to the forth the song then makes its full presence known with intense riffs and sturdy rhythms that expand to include intelligent melodic invention. Again the Pendulum feel flows through the song bringing an inventive form to the Kennedy Soundtrack like restrained slower moments.

Push and Once Weary Eyes (remix) complete this stunning release. The first of the two is an electro/trance metal lined track that lies somewhere between Pendulum, Silent Descent and Ourfamous Dead. It is a powerful animal that burns itself into the senses with scorched melodies, unfettered rhythms and riffs that strike with a fully intensified metal heart. The closing song Once Weary Eyes rounds things off perfectly with its drum n bass/metal sounds that wraps around the ear and beyond with a hungry intent.

Believe In This is immense and the finest declaration that Collisions are a band about to brew up a storm and a fresh breath for UK metal.

https://www.facebook.com/CollisionsUk

RingMaster 24/04/2012