Album review: SOTO – Origami
Inside Out [Release date 24.05.19]
Jeff Scott Soto is a busy man with his solo albums, Sons Of Apollo, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, W.E.T. and of course the band SOTO (I am thinking the use of capitals is to differentiate from the lower case Soto, a Latin funk band!), which although it bears his surname, it is a full on band effort. ‘Origami’ is the third SOTO album and the first for their new label, Inside Out, also home to Sons Of Apollo. Tony Dickinson joined the band last year to replace David Z who died in 2017.
I must admit the previous two SOTO albums didn’t overly appeal, however ‘Origami’ is a different matter entirely kicking off with modern beats on ‘HyperMania’. Shades of Shinedown and Imagine Dragons in the backing, with a suitably heavy guitar solo from Jorge Salan. He certainly earns his keep throughout the album, be it heavy riffs or in your face solos.
The title track is a glorious melodic metal beast, the aforementioned Dickinson and drummer Edu Cominato driving the rhythm along. ‘Dance With The Devil’ follows a similar musical path, plenty of riffage on display. At the other end of the scale ‘Torn’ taps into Jeff Scott Soto’s love of a bit of melodic rock, made for airplay and summer days. Then for something completely different how about some hot, funky horns? Yep they appear on ‘AfterGlow’, one of the album stand outs highlighting Jeff Scott Soto’s love of a bit of funky musical action.
The album closes with a cover of Michael Jackson’s ‘Give In To Me’, a definite Marmite cover and although I can’t stand Marmite I do like this version.
SOTO have an album and a half on their hands here, a real melodic metal treat and their best album to date. ****
Review by Jason Ritchie
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.
Next session: Sunday 1 December
Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio
David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.
UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 29 October 2024.
How to Listen Live?
Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)
Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”
Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.
More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com
Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024
ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)
Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections