Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Hence The Noise

 
Hence The Noise 


Hence The Noise is a NY based modern metal band which consists of Chandler Mogel on vocals, Rob Russo & Eddie Vandenko on guitars, and featuring Robbie Russo, who is a 13 yr old inspirational prodigy on drums. Rob Russo & Eddie Vandenko have a long history together. They have been collaborating in various bands in the NY club scene ever since they met at a mutual friend’s garage in Brooklyn NY in 1989. After a long hiatus from the music scene, they started writing music again and decided to put a band together. Minute With Me - is based around their support for our veterans.

If this release is about a minute, then it’s one long and very good minute. They waste no time getting started by getting the title track out of the way. The subject of war is always on the table and these times are no exception to that rule. Some belong making efforts to say something about it in music, and others don’t. It takes a true understanding for our vets and these guys don’t disgrace the topic. “Minute With Me” addresses it from the start and it’s almost somber but it makes the point loud and clear enough. Don’t get me wrong, it’s just not the most musically enticing opener.

“The Enemy” is much tougher, as is most of the rest of the disc. But is this about war or just battle of the sexes and socio-political matters? They actually-tackle both as if to land wherever you want in the meaning of a song. It’s a dual analogy but primarily about the obvious, it just has a tongue and cheek twist. It’s a fantastic song at the end of the day, and it gets the whole ball up and running. “Scars” is probably one of the highlights but ask me later, because a few of these tracks really have a growing appeal. But if I were to pick the sleeper it would be this track which changes in mood structure enough to stick.  

 
By now it’s clear that a great band is developing here, and the songs prove it with every note, even with the exception-of the opening track lacking a few bars of enjoyment. “Number In Line” shows off some fabulous guitar skills and it gets pretty in some parts. There’s a delicate texture to it that comes along with great timing, and it makes you want to continue listening to their style of metal songwriting. They even do a cover of “War” originally by Edwin Starr. And that is about as far from heavy metal as it gets, but they rock it with flying colors by adding some of their own attitude to it. They handle their R&B well on this.

My choice for favorites are “You And I” with its amazing lyrics that mention John Lennon and center around peace, not war. This song is brilliant and likely another sleeper, but to me it takes the proverbial cake with a softer side to the band. It’s an acoustic track with some string backing that rings of tracks like “Imagine” and “We Are The World” etc. A truly excellent anthem, if a quiet one. And the closing track “One Of Us” for it’s clear nod to Iron Maiden and others. It takes things out on a very high note. An honorable mention goes to the track “Hence The Noise” as well. Highly recommended, search it up.  

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