Well, the heat only seems to have gotten worse. I feel like this will be a long summer. A good time to be indoors and listening to some new rock and metal. Here's what I've been checking out lately!
Nickelback - CurbI know I’ve mentioned this before, but I do think Nickelback have become over-hated. They’ve always had a pretty solid, crunchy hard rock sound, in my opinion, and I decided to give their very first album a listen. While it’s not bad, it’s very much a product of its 1996 release date.
Some things are pretty familiar, such as the thick guitar tones and Chad Kroeger yarling through it all (which I've never minded), but their sound and songwriting haven’t quite developed into their own style yet, certainly leaning into the now-classic Seattle Sound. Pearl Jam is probably the largest influence, though there are a few moments that make me think of early Foo Fighters as well, and a few tracks lean more into punk rock. It’s certainly a blend of alternative rock styles from the mid-90s.
There are some good riffs and interesting moments here and there, but not much really stood out. Some of it is dark and moody, other times it’s more jumpy and energetic, so it's a bit of a messy album, but at least it’s not the same ideas over and over. It's was fun to hear how the band started early on, with their influences shining through, but as an album, it’s just kinda okay.
Robin McAuley - Standing on the Edge
Robin McAuley is one of those journeymen who wandered through many bands in the 80s, making a name for himself, but never really settling with a single band, and he’s continued that pattern in recent years. After reconnecting with Michael Schenker for a few albums, then joining Black Swan, he has followed up with his first solo album in more than 20 years.
Unsurprisingly, it’s largely mid-tempo rock songs reminiscent of his time as part of the McAuley-Schenker group in the late 80s. The riffs are actually pretty chunky, and the synths and organs add some nice layers, all of which work to provide the ideal backdrop for McAuley’s vocals. Honestly, he sounds great here, his voice giving authority to what might be some pretty standard lyrics. None of it is awful, just kinda pedestrian, but when they’re sung by someone this good, it’s hard to complain. It’s almost like he hasn’t aged at all!
The album is pretty by-the-numbers, but that’s to be expected with something like this. The tracks that stood out to me were the ones I’ve featured before on the New Vidoes articles on this blog: “Thy Will Be Done” (which is a solid opener), “Standing on the Edge,” “Say Goodbye,” and “Wanna Take a Ride” remain good rockers, with “Chosen Few” being rather punchy, kinda like AC/DC, and "Running Out of Time" being a nice, uptempo closer. A little heavier than most AOR, but as an album, it flows pretty well, and proves that Robin still has it, making for a pretty good listen.
Paladine - Finding Solace
When I came across this band
earlier in the year, I figured, as they only have two albums, I'd start with their first one. It's a bit of a rough listen, as the production has some quirks, but otherwise, it's a solid, if clunky, collection of power metal.
These guys really like their DragonLance lore, as all their songs are drawn from that D&D universe. I'm only a bit familiar with it, having read the Chronicles trilogy when I was in high school, but it works as a sufficient core to build epic songs around, even if the lyrics don't don't always gel. Sonically, they sound very much in the heavy/power realm, much like early Dream Evil, Metalium, or Warrior Path, with a dash of Iron Maiden for good measure. However, it does have some first album drawbacks. The songs are probably too long for what they are, and the drums sound a bit too forward in the mix and very clicky.
Still, these are minor problems. Nick Protonotarios is a good vocalist, mostly going for a gritty epicness, not unlike Herbie Langhans or Henning Basse, and there is plenty of solid guitar work and solos. They also have a folky acoustic ballad or two to mix things up a little. However, the only tracks that stood out were "Master of Present & Past," and "Metalizer," which has a strong Firepower-era Judas Priest vibe. Still, they show plenty of promise, and I'll be sure to listen to their second album later this year!
I don't really have much to add this time around. I pretty much intend to just keep going, doing my semi-regular articles, listening to more music, and not let the heat of summer get the best of me. Until then, rock on! \m/
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