ON TOP - Top To Bottom EP
June 18, 2014, 9 years ago
(Horror Pain Gore Death Productions)
Four song Ep from Philly area outfit that belies the label title's output. Couple of years back, loved and reviewed the retro-minded, traditional metal debut, Top Heavy, but what's happened in the meantime? Apparently someone's discovered a Rage Against The Machine disc, as everything, starting with “No Shame” sounds like a rewrite, down to the staccato riffs and shouted Zack De La Rocha rap vocals. “Cold And Blue” and “Bad Love” begin promisingly enough, but then the vocalist kicks in. Where's the advertised Sunset Strip sleaze/strut or even NWOBHM rhythms? All are history, in favor of an updated (albeit still two decades behind the times) sound. Label promotional hype claims, “This release raises the bar and showcases the band's evolution.” As Darwin proved, not all adaptations improve the chances for survival! Sadly disappointing.
