Album review: BLUE LIGHT EFFECT – Songs From The Frontier

Bandcamp [Release date 22.12.22]

The pandemic has seen all sorts of creative ideas and music coming out, the latest being Blue Light Effect, a band composed of first responders, frontline workers, and a registered nurse. Hailing from Long Island, NY (home to another blue band, the legendary Blue Oyster Cult!), the band features Vinny Verzino (vocals), Craig Siegelbaum (guitars, piano), Justin Cellini (bass) and Joe Mignanelli (drums).

When listening to a new band you always try to think of similar sounding artists and in Blue Light Effect’s case it was a mixed bag that came to mind, including Cold, Collective Soul (particularly on ‘Cauterize’), Five For Fighting and Fall Out Boy.

They go all out rock on ‘Got Your Six’, which will certainly blow away any cobwebs, then there is the slow building ‘Soul Lost’. The latter shows the range and power of Vinny Verzino’s vocals. Mind you, Craig Siegelbaum lays down the solo of the album on this on too. ‘Goodbye’ has that pop crossover potential with its emotionally charge lyric and catchy riffs.

Two of the songs feature Gina Cutillo on vocals, namely ‘Tempered’ and ‘Save Us For Another Life’. Both are instant on the ears and hopefully Blue Light Effect and Gina Cutillo will work together again, as they complement each other perfectly and add an extra dimension to the band’s sound.

Blue Light Effect pack a lot of musical emotion into the album’s eleven songs, with a running time just short of forty minutes, no song outlasts its welcome.

Modern rock with a keen ear for melody, Blue Light Effect are a band to watch. In the meantime enjoy this refreshing album which stands up to repeated plays. ***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)