One of the so-called benefits of writing for NandoNext is the fact that we get to keep the CDs that we review. This is great if you are reviewing a band you already know about.
But NandoNext also gets its share of discs from record companies to check out. The companies are looking for some publicity for their unknowns. The only publicity they’ve gotten from me is negative — up until now.
At the last meeting, I got a disc by a group called Drill. All I can say about the CD is “Wow!” From the moment I popped this disc into my CD player on the way home, I was hooked. I’m proud to say this disc is part of my collection and feel guilty that I didn’t have to pay anything for it.
The first two tracks completely rock out. “Go to Hell” starts with a great guitar riff. Hard-rocking tunes, such as “Go to Hell” and “Innuendo,” have a slig ht Metallica sound. This group’s mix of clean and distorted guitar reminds me of some other band in my CD collection, but I can’t really place my finger on it. It doesn’t really matter, though — whatever it is, I like it.
This metal/hard rock similarity shouldn’t throw you off because there is a lot more to Drill than guitar. Lucia Cifarelli’s vocals are dynamic: powerful at times, but soft and emotional at other times. “I Like You” shows both ends of the spectrum. When th e guitar is quiet and melodic, her voice matches, with a sweetness that would make even Gwen Stefani cringe. As the chorus commences, her screams overtake and demonstrate a good range.
The bass line also has its moments on this self-titled album. “What Are You,” “Go to Hell” and “Innuendo” all feature great, prominent bass lines that really complement the vocal and guitar pieces. At the same time, the band uses its various strengths sparingly so that songs don’t end up sounding the same.
“Go to Hell” and “Innuendo” have popped up several times in my review. I have to say, they’re definitely my two favorite tracks of the 12 tracks. Both are really pulsing, powerful tunes that basically define what I like in music: strong guitar, dynamic vo cals and a bass line that adds to, rather than simply echoes, the guitar riff.
Don’t get me wrong: The rest of the album is very strong. I can just imagine the first two tracks as singles. I also could imagine “What Are You” ending up as a single; I thought more about this idea after I saw the film “Empire Records,” which features i t on its soundtrack.
The copyright on this disc is 1995, so this disc isn’t new by any stretch of the imagination. I’m looking forward to hearing the group’s sophomore endeavor and hope that there will be one. I plan to find out whether I can catch a live show by the band. If the live performance is anything at all like the album, it will be worth the price of admission.
Related Posts:
Entries (RSS)