[Release date 22.09.15] www.brothersofmars.com

A quick glance at the track listing on this solo project from Mauro Zarattini – ‘Mental Breakdown’, ‘Welcome To Hell’, ‘Tarot Reader’, and ‘Acid Rain’ – suggests that the listener is in for some, to use a well coined phrase, ‘heavy’ material.

In fact, Welcome To My Breakdown is a mix of different styles – from classical to metal, to progressive 70′s rock to alternative – all written, composed, and produced by Zarattini – a London-based keyboard player supported by guitarists Ben Cameron, Alastair Beveridge and Daniele Zarattini, and a core of Luna James (vocals), Matt Young (bass) and Anthony Sullivan (drums).

The reality is, however, that it never strays too far away from the mainstream and a quick Google finds Zarattini layering his keyboards over songs by the likes of Nightwish, Mk III Deep Purple and Neal Morse without breaking sweat.  It’s a fair approximation of what to expect.

As with many young players, dexterity isn’t an issue.  And while ‘aping’ is all very well, Zarattini doesn’t make a monkey of himself with Welcome To My Breakdown, although running out at only 32 minutes it’s no magnum opus.

The brief Intro wouldn’t be out of place in a Lord Of The Rings soundtrack, and while ‘Mental Breakdown’  and ‘Acceptance’ doff a hat towards symphonic metal, Luna James does a good job in putting her own mark on a genre where vocal cloning has become the norm.

Elsewhere, it’s a very credible – keyboard dominated – mainstream rock offering.  The only thing lacking is a sufficiently well balanced guitar counterpoint.  Name me a band who’s made it on the strength of their keyboardist alone.  Bring an equally talented six string young gun into the fold and Brothers Of Mars could be a name to reckon with.  ***1/2

Review by Pete Whalley

---

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)

---

---

Popular (last 10 days)

---