Cyborg Superman
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Overall Impression:
Well, it's safe to say, The Cosmic Alloy has done it yet again! Another marvelously quirky, humorous, and I think it's safe to say, a bit bonkers (I do mean this as a compliment) offering by a band that just know how to have fun, and in a time when we are continually being bombarded with a colossal amount of seriousness every day, this makes a welcome change. "Cyborg Superman", I mean the name says it all, is a bizarre and wonderfully wacky track that knows exactly what it is, and is completely unapologetic about it, rock on!
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Strongest Point(s):
The lyrics are always a highlight of any Cosmic Alloy track, you really can't help but crack a smile whilst listening to them, and "Cyborg Superman" is no exception, brilliantly quirky and filled with a great helping of humor, they help cement the group's love for the slightly unconventional approach to songwriting, and it helps give the band it's certainly unique style and attitude. As with similar Cosmic Alloy tracks, "Cyborg Superman" takes a strong hard rock/prog approach, mixing dirty guitars, soaring lead solos, and fantastical synth flourishes to create a musically varied track that makes for a strong musical backdrop for the lead vocals to do their thing over.
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About The Reviewer:
Andre is a freelance session musician, composer, and sound engineer based in the U.K. Having studied music production and composition at a degree level, he has taken his passion for all things audio-related to a level that has allowed him to become both a competent musician and performer. Being a self-confessed "Guitar Nerd" Andre has been continually studying the guitar, as well as teaching it, helping students both learn the instrument, develop their songwriting, and how to become proficient in home recording.
Hear What I Say
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Overall Impression: The Cosmic Alloy has released their new rock tune Hear What I Say. Pulling clear inspiration from 70’s and 80’s progressive and punk rock, Hear What I Say brings a guitar-fueled sense of exploration with instant singability. Leaving no fret untouched, the guitarists shred their way through the stratosphere. The high-octane solos and lead work is sensibly balanced with crunchy power chords in the verses. Taking listeners through life lessons obtained abroad, the lyrics voice problematic similarities and dissimilarities between cultures. They are sung with a bright tone and just enough power to get the message across. Overall, Hear What I Say is high-energy prog rock tune with worldly sensibilities.
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Strongest Point(s): The guitar work in Hear What I Say catches the most attention, and retains it throughout the end of the tune. It leans on the side of showmanship and awe, but avoids being too over-the-top or insufferable.
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About The Reviewer: Zachary Larson is a professional touring guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. Getting his start in high school rock bands, he has since toured as a classical chamber musician, onboard luxury cruise lines, and with the Broadway musicals Finding Neverland and Escape To Margaritaville. His recorded work spans from classical works and jazzy holiday tunes, to mind-bending experimental music. His arrangements of orchestral music are published through Clear Note Publications. Classically trained, he holds a Master of Music degree from the University of Denver.
Innocent Gun
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Overall Impression:
It's not often you come across a song that sounds wholly unique and not afraid to go against the grain, however, "Innocent Gun" is one of those very songs. An eclectic mix of rock, prog, metal, and grunge, just to name a few, "Innocent Gun" is one truly quirky piece of songwriting that is both brilliantly unapologetic in its execution and just plain fun, The Cosmic Alloy offers up a marvelously bonkers listening experience that combines a great sense of energy with a wacky sense of humor, great stuff!
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Strongest Point(s):
The way a number of different genres have been fused together is excellent, hard rock inspired riffs, grungey production, prog inspired Hammond organ flourishes, and a punk-laden vocal delivery combine to make a bizarre yet weirdly captivating sonic assault on the senses, and it's great to hear a band that isn't afraid to experiment with different styles and ideas in order to create something unexpected. The performances are solid and have a great sense of energy to them, this very much feels like a band having fun, and it really does shine through the music.
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About The Reviewer:
Andre is a freelance session musician, composer, and sound engineer based in the U.K. Having studied music production and composition at a degree level, he has taken his passion for all things audio-related to a level that has allowed him to become both a competent musician and performer. Being a self-confessed "Guitar Nerd" Andre has been continually studying the guitar, as well as teaching it, helping students both learn the instrument, develop their songwriting, and how to become proficient in home recording.
The Thin Line Between Love And Hate
Overall Impression:
Having reviewed a previous track by The Cosmic Alloy, I knew I was in for quite the original listening experience, the band has a great knack for combining a number of different genres together in order to create a wholly unique sounding song that's brimming with great variety and abundance of interesting and strikingly diverse ideas, "The Thin Line Between Love and Hate" certainly follows this trend, effortlessly melding rock, prog, and metal together in a track of epic proportions, sweeping synth melodies, hard-edged rhythms, and a great amount of character made this an extremely fun and enthralling listen. Great stuff!
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Strongest Point(s):
At eight and a half minutes long, this is definitely a track that requires commitment, but thankfully the amount of variety on offer ensures this is an experience that is spectacularly rife with a plethora of interesting melodic and rhythmic ideas that are brought to life through excellent performances and inspired songwriting. This is very much a track of two contrasting halves, both bound by strong thematic threads that help keep the track feeling both cohesive and thematically well-developed, the first half can best be described as following a conventional rock song structure, verse, chorus, verse, etc. and highlights the impressive lead vocal performances, there's definitely an Iron Maiden/Bruce Dickinson feeling to this first half, the chorus has that epic quality to it, and you can't help but find yourself nodding along with the track. The second half is where the track moves briskly into prog territory, and it's brilliant, the mostly instrumental latter half is an atmospheric deep dive into melodic experimentation that does a very fine job of keeping the listener on their toes, which is no easy feat. Interspersed with virtuoso synth solos, superbly doubled-up bass/guitar riffs, and a great amount of ambiance, this latter half is a journey in itself and I thoroughly enjoyed being on it!
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About The Reviewer:
Andre Avanessian is a freelance session musician, composer, and sound engineer based in the U.K. Having studied music production and composition at a degree level, he has taken his passion for all things audio-related to a level that has allowed him to become both a competent musician and performer. Being a self-confessed "Guitar Nerd" Andre has been continually studying the guitar, as well as teaching it, helping students both learn the instrument, develop their songwriting, and how to become proficient in home recording.