Alt Metal
Mascot Records
Release Date – March 10th 2023
Line Up:
Adrian Patrick – Vocals
Ryan Patrick – Lead Guitar
Joe Conner – Drums
Tracklist:
1 – Full Disclosure
2 – Exit Wound
3 – New Way To Hate
4 – Failure
5 – Coffins
6 – Hollywood Minute
7 – Gawdzillionaire
8 – La Familia
9 – Paradise (Featuring Heidi Shepherd)
10 – Exorcism
11 – Camouflage
12 – No Rain
Never come across Otherwise until this release and by my reckoning, this is about their sixth release since their formation in 2003. With their feet firmly in the alternative rock/metal camp, they make a big passionate noise and incorporate all types of rock n metal in their sound.
Opening with the huge, angry, and melodic ‘Full Disclosure’ they go for the throat from the off-coming on like Shinedown, big guitars, huge drums, and masculine vocals. ‘Exit Wound’ is an absolute banger that doesn’t hang around – full of angst and passion with a real singalong melody. Electronics introduce the almost industrial ‘New Way To Hate’ before ‘Failure’ comes on like a Skillet anthem, jeez this is huge – a call to arms for the new generation! ‘Coffins’ is a modern metal stop-start anthem with a wonderful keyboard line through the middle of the chorus then ‘Hollywood Minute’ just blasts and grooves on a huge bassline before the title track, which features Ekoh (?) brings some new nu-metal rage. ‘La Familia’ is the ‘almost ballad’ – heartfelt with another fabulous melody – gotta be a single coz it’s got hit written all over it. ‘Paradise’, featuring Heidi Shepherd (The Butcher Babies), is another rager where guitarist Ryan Patrick plays some tasty licks amongst the heavy riffage. ‘Excorcism’ is one of those where singer Adrian Patrick sings softly then roars on the chorus before ‘Camouflage’ continues the energy and angst before the final track, a cover of Blind Melon’s ‘No Rain’ which is far better than the original.
I’ve never really gotten to grips with the alt-rock/metal thing but on the strength of this, I will be investigating further. Adrian Patrick has a mighty powerful voice which he uses to its max all alongside Ryan’s monolithic riffage, add a powerful and punchy rhythm section plus a superb production then these guys can’t go wrong because they have the songs. If this is the shape of things to come – 2023 is already; looking like a good year.
Score: 9/10
Reviewed by: Smudge
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