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The new CD from Suckerhead certainly doesn't
sound like the freshman recording from a new group, and probably for good
reason. In essence it is another CD from the guitar/bass duo of Lance
Hoskins and Bonnie Wallington and drummer William Orrok from Down To The
Shake with Sean Grace added on Vocals. This band has taken everything they
did right on the previous recording and improved on it. My first response
upon listening was, 'Wow, these guys have gotten even better'. They seem to
understand that there is only one true formula for a good song. Good writing
and arranging mixed with good performances and production.
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This CD was recorded,
engineered and produced by Lance Hoskins at his own Goatfinger Studios. This
really establishes Lance as a great producer as well as a musician. He
manages to catch the live, raw energy of the band, while maintaining clarity
and fidelity found in recordings from any top studio. While studio gear is
more available and less expensive these days, it still takes a good ear and
production skills to create a good recording.
Sean Grace is a perfect match
for Hoskin's guitar style. As I stated in my review of the DTTS CD, Lance
understands that music is more than just guitar gymnastics. Sean's vocals go
from subtle melodies that are sometimes near whispers, to raging, thunderous
screams. The melody lines for both vocals and guitar are both melodic and
powerful and intertwine each other in a very fluid manner. The lyrics are
dark, deep and surreal. The lyric's, like the melody lines, leave room for
thought and contemplation, and you don't find that in most heavy music. If I
were to give an analogy of this CD as a musical journey, it would be as
follows: The songs take you on a walk to a beautiful mountain top and invite
you to enjoy the view. You express some fear of heights, so they tie you to
a large rock for safety. Then they push the large rock over the edge. If
that isn't enough, then they talk you into doing it again.
The sonic blast that pounds
your chest from Bonnie Wallington and William Orrok can only be described as
pounding off the end of the heavy scale. The rhythm section knows when to
lay back as well, but when they kick into overdrive it is like a steel wave
of sound pouring over you. Bonnie or "Bonzilla" as fans know her, has
matured her playing and sound palette as well and seems to find a lock on
the beat and that bottom groove that you feel more than hear.
The song arrangements are
nicely orchestrated, and at the same time, can easily be pulled off by a
three-piece band. Lance has a few guitar harmonies thrown in and I'd
personally like to see him venture in that direction more, but then you have
the question of how to pull it off live. But enough with the pontificating,
my advice is to go to the
web site and get the
CD or go see a show and just bang your head and enjoy it. If you want it
heavy nobody does it better than Suckerhead.
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