Tag: Rob Smith

OK, so I ain’t no writer – and in fact the “word dude” as I have sometimes called him, is infact in the band that I’m writing this on, but I wanted to attempt to do a write up on the new GONE WILD album “GONE WILD II”, for them, for me, and for people out there also that might be curious. So here it is for your reading pleasure or maybe displeasure! ENJOY! (Coming soon will also be some LOOOOOOONG overdue words on their first CD “GONE WILD”)

I’ve gotta say that when the boys mentioned the plan was for a double album, I honestly wasn’t sure exactly how serious they were about it – maybe it was kinda a way of saying that their writing for this album was kicking arse and there were no shortage of ideas? Afterall, who really does double albums anyway. It really seemed like it would be a real task if they were in fact serious.

Somewhere along the way I’d be hearing about this song they’d been working up, then another, and another, and I thought to myself “holy shit – they WERE serious”!! Credit to them for that part of it alone. The fact that every single song holds up and is pretty damn good is something else altogether – 29 of them baby!!

The thing I really enjoy about listening to these guys is that it’s not really music that the masses make anymore. No one is really this diverse from song to song in these days of overproduced mush. This is essentially a rock album, but you couldn’t call it straight up hard rock, you couldn’t call it metal, you couldn’t call it pop, soft rock etc. To my ears, and it seems the stuff that generally stands the test of time and holds up is that which you can’t quite classify in a genre. It’s not norweigan doom sludge death black thrash metal, blues, jazz, rock, or whatever the hell, it’s just “GOOD”. I’d put this album in that boat most definitely.

It must be mentioned that again, the guys asked me to come on board for some guitar playing on their songs, which I’m always stoked to get the opportunity to do. You’ll see my comments on the songs I played on “State of Euphoria”, “Georgia Peach” and “Bourbon Blues”, but needless to say it was awesome as usual and here’s to it happening again sometime in the future!!

“Silent Tears” – Was impressed with the guys taking on this kind of subject matter and essentially going where a lot of people generally wouldn’t. You’ve gotta respect that, and not to mention the song is a damn good one too. The chorus is real real catchy as pretty much all of them are, and it features (I believe) Richards neice with a spoken cameo.

“Rock This World” – To me this is classic rock all the way. Quite an anthem really. I think I was singing this chorus to myself as early as the 2nd verse (ie after hearing it once). That’s what it’s all about. Creating a hook like that which is instantly memorable is a talent for sure!!

“Immortal” – Had been given a preview of this one as recording was underway. I’m not sure exactly when, but it really impressed me to hear the guys heavy it up this much. Is kind of “Kill the King” by Rainbow tempo, and easily as heavy. Rob shreds like a mofo on this song!!!! Metal!!!

“Bitter Sweet” – I really like the rhythm section on this song coming in – and by the way the drums on this album are programmed by Mr Rob Smith. That can be something, trying to nail it with programmed drums. For demos no worries, but on a final album, and especially on a rock or metal album – trying to make them sound huge and not to mention REAL can really be an arseache. It really feels like a rhythm section though, here especially. Love the bass tone here from Mr Matt Sturgess. HUGE!! Pumping along with those “drums”. Is some cool interplay going on between the two voices with Richard doing an almost spoken verse, then Rob coming in for the next bit. Works really well here and pretty much always does with the two guys on vocals. Great song!!

“Living on the Edge” – Some nice keys / guitar for an intro here. Very atmospheric (that word is no accident – I’m pretty sure this is Rob and Nilsy – Nils Ole Finbak – guest keys and piano on the intro, and they have just released an album of mellow stuff called “Atmospheres”!!) stuff going on. The verse coming in is a real strong melody. Instantly hummable. I like the “don’t let them stop you breaking free” too, as “Breakfree” is a nickname of Richard Anderson. Not sure if that was an Iron Maiden / Black Sabbath thing happening there, but I like it haha. Real catchy chorus here again. Sounds like Richard and Rob singing a block of harmonies together and another example of how well their voices blend. Some real tasty sax playing happening on this track too from Robin Wellaway – really adds to the mood of the song!! Almost triumphant perhaps? Works for me – Cool!!!

“Oblivion” – You know that stuff I was saying about the diversity of the album? This is where it kicks right in. HAVE to give it up here for Richard’s “Lemmy” vocal. Apparently there was a bit of ribbing in the studio along the lines of “I bet you can’t finish the song singing like that”, and Richard stepping up and kicking it!! Love it!!! Some nice harmonies on the chorus here. Not sure if it’s both guys or just Rob? Rocking though. Again they’re touching on some subject matter here. There’s even a rapping section among everything by MC Hizzy!!

“The Living Dead” – The dreaded “highballer” as the guys refer to them during recording I’m told!! Haha. That is the singing of a really high vocal part, ie “highballer”, which isn’t a favourite of Breakfree’s apparently!! This song has some REAL highballer stuff from Rob, with Richard backing him up underneath from what I hear. Is a pretty straight up melodic rocker with some tasty double tracked leads from Rob. Some nice bass fills here too!! Speaking of I really like what Matt is doing on the verses here against the riff. Really adds to it a lot!!

“Straightjackets” – Would love to know where the laughs came from at the start of this song, as I’m guessing they’re samples. Very cool with some humour thrown in for good measure! Among that you really get a sense of despair and insecurity from the lyric. Really like the little bass runs in the half time parts.

“State of Euphoria” – This is a beaut little track and was the first of three I ended up playing on. I remember being real impressed at the intro that Matt complemented so nicely with the bass, but this came after I had sent in my stuff for it. Circumstances meant I wasn’t gonna get much time to do my tracks for this one, and to my ears it shows a tiny little bit, but am still fairly happy with what I did – just that I couldn’t have done it better, but isn’t it always the way! As always I think our leads go together really well and compliment each other a lot.

“Once Bitten” – The mighty Kenny Killz introduces this song and then the boys proceed to rock pretty hard once again!! I really like that riff that leads the song in. Catchy catchy song!! Beaut long geetar solo fading this one out too, which is perfect for a guitarist like myself to review haha!! Awesome!!

“Legacy” – This is a real nice lyric and the song is another favourite from the album. Fantastic chorus on this one again!! In a better world any number of these songs would be played on regular joe radio. They’re definitely catchy enough! Must comment on the trading off with lead guitar and sax (Robin again) – what a combo!!! The guys really compliment each other and the playing is tasty all the way!!

“My Good Addiction” – Coming into this song it kinda reminds me of Satch a little bit – probably because that lick is similar to one in “Surfing with the Alien”. That isn’t a rip though, and I’m sure Rob is a fan!! I like the different angle to the lyrics. Apparently the writer wants to keep the specifics under wraps, so for that info, you’ll have to either ask him or guess.

“The Death of a Hero” – Not a bad little salute to Phil Lynott here who I know Richard is the biggest fan alive of!! Nice cruisy blues rocker with some nice backing vox as always. Infact the harmonies on both backing vocals and guitar also probably make this song a little bit different for a bluesy rocker, which I like!!

“Georgia Peach” – Haha you’ve gotta enjoy the humour on this one!! I’m not going to go there in this write up – will leave that to the lyricist, but this was another one of the tracks the guys had me play on, and I was pumped to be using a telecaster on this track cause I love them so much but so far have never owned one. Richard and Rob sound cool singing together – is a cool blend with their voices, while Matt is holding it down in fine form as always!!

“De Ja Vu” – This was the first snippet I had heard of the new stuff (excluding songs I played on of course), and I remember being real real excited at the vocal hook. Great song, and how can you not relate to the lyrics of this one!!