Quick plays: ABACU5, DANIEL TRIGGER, IVORY TOWER PROJECT

ABACU5 A Long Way To Begin [Release date 25.04.17]

Abacu5 is a four-piece band from Dallas, Texas consisting of Randy White (vocals), Samuel Holder (guitar), Adam Manning (bass/vocals) and Eric Petrinowitsch (drums/vocals).

Abacu5 have a great ear for a melody and hook filled chorus – just listen to the harmonies on ‘Wonder’ and ‘Tightrope’, the latter rocks like a good ‘un with plenty of guitars. Then they can tug at the emotional heartstrings on ‘Love Of My Life’, very impressive and again they add their blissful harmony vocals.

Catchy, well played modern rock similar to Third Eye Blind, Abacu5 have produced a highly listenable and enjoyable debut album. ***1/2

Review by Jason Ritchie

DANIEL TRIGGER Time Of The Titans

www.danieltrigger.net [Release date 25.04.17]

Daniel Trigger likes a guitar and then some, as on this album he creates layer upon layer of guitars and the songs remind you a little of artists like Paul Sabu. He pens all the songs and plays the majority of the instruments bar a few guests who add guitar solos.

The songs are good hard rockers with the title track a real stand out as it builds nicely and features one of the album’s more memorable choruses.

If Daniel Trigger could hook-up with some like minded musical souls or even join a Frontiers project I could see him becoming a more well known musician, as on his own he has the tunes but lacks the clout to get his music out there. Worth a listen and delving into his music further. ***

Review by Jason Ritchie

IVORY TOWER PROJECT How Much More?
www.ivorytowerproject.com Release date 01.08.17]

The Ivory Tower Project is a true labour of musical love by Mark Regula (vocals/keyboards/acoustic guitars/percussion/bass/drums) and Tony Novarro (guitars/vocals/bass/percussion/drums), who worked with the late lyricist Johnny Jace. They have been working on and off on these songs since their debut album ‘Red Hot’ was released in 2008. As the band name suggests they have a love of all things pomp rock citing bands such as Styx, Queen, Foreigner and Boston as major musical influences.

It is an interesting mix as ‘The Ides Of March (Et Tu Brute)’ sounds like 70′s Queen, then you have ‘Gotcha’ which has an 80′s scratch DJ/pop beat to it. Those Boston influences shine through on ‘Ring Around Rosie’, more in the vocals than the Tom Scholz guitar orchestrations, although this song features a suitably gran guitar solo.

They do cover a lot of musical ground as you have the instrumental ‘Surf Song’ which does exactly what it says in the title and the album closes with a bizarre DJ distortion remix of ‘My Name’ – mmm not sure that really works here.

Not many modern bands do pomp rock anymore, more’s the pity, so more power to the Ivory Tower Project’s album for carrying on the flame for this genre. The good news is that they are working on new music. ***1/2

Review by Jason Ritchie

THE POYNT Alpha Queue

Fellow GRTR! reviewer David Wilson reviewed the Poynt’s debut release (and is quoted on the press release!), ‘This Is American Royalty’. That was in 2015 and tow years later we have their follow-up EP - although with seven songs that’s a mini-album in my pedant’s book.

I agree with David in that Eduardo Alacron has a strong vocal, which he does need to rise above the guitars at times. Adhnan Sulmain lays down some very tasty solos throughout the album. Some great songs on here like ‘Open Your Mouth’, which reminds me of Collective Soul, whilst there is a touch of Nirvana on ‘Not Quite Jesus’.

The Poynt deserve to be more well known as they have the tunes and talent to impress. ***1/2

Review by Jason Ritchie

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)