A whopping 3 thousand bands performed to win guitar Centre’s ‘On Stage with Slash’ The big haired, top hat wearing, cool as a cucumber chap picked the bands himself which would bag them a tour support slot at the house of blues in Atlantic City and a pocket filling 30,000 dollars worth tour package, that lucky band was Philadelphia’s Mach 22.
‘Constant Denier’, the first track starts off with some classy guitar riffs, then in comes the drums. I get the feeling it’s going to be something brilliant here. Unfortunately though, no sooner do I open my gob with a compliment I hear the vocals, oh dear! I’m sure this bloke sounds alright on karaoke but on this, I hear a bloke with an average voice and a bit of a speech problem?!
With ‘Go Ahead’ yes, it’s a cracking piece, but the vocals again just aren’t good enough. Aside from that, the track reminds me a lot of early AC/DC. A fantastic 80’s old school sound and the solo isn’t too shabby either. But then there’s ‘Don’t You Give Me’ which, unfortunately falls flat on its face. There’s not really much change in the whole song and it becomes quite a bore towards the end as you’re waiting patiently for something spectacular, yet, nothing.
I’m Just a Man’ isn’t a showstopper of a track but its ok. However, the blatant Slash rip off guitars throughout make me want to give them the two thumbs down.
Now, ‘Stone Rose’ is an alright little ballad. It’s obvious it’s not the next ‘Every Rose has its Thorn’ but it’s certainly got a bit of potential there. A bit of polishing and filling in and this wouldn’t be half bad. Sadly with ‘Backslider’ I hear another riff, Its Motley Crue’s ‘Live Wire’. A bit of originality guys? if you’re gonna take a cheeky riff off another song, don’t make it a popular one!
‘Made to Love’ apart from the chorus sounds a bit too mashed up. It just doesn’t gel well together. ‘Radio’ again, there’s no balls to the track, there’s definitely something to work with there but they obviously need to get their heads together and come up with some cracking riffs and as for the vocals? Meh!
Getting in a more depressed mood I listen to ‘One Trick Pony’ hoping that the track at least delivers its title. Alas, no! The solo is a little drony, I can’t play a riff to save my life but I could probably learn that solo is an hour.
A well named last track ‘Nevermind’ and if you forgot about the rest of the album you’d think this wasn’t half bad. It’s up tempo but, again a big Slash rip off (think Velvet Revolver) Even the vocalist sounds a little better and the solo is the best out of the mediocre efforts on the rest.
I really wanted to like this band. Even Slash picked them out of a shedload of bands. So I was hoping to hear something quite special. Oh well, I suppose I could use another CD coaster.
(2/10 Charlene Rance)
Leave a Reply