Reviews: Hitherside, Brothers In Arms, Okilly Dokilly, Suzi Quatro (Pascal & Liam)

Hitherside: Blue Lotus (Painted Bass Records) [Pascal]

Hitherside is a Belgian /American band based in Antwerp according to their press pack. Which also tells you that Dirk Verbeuren, current Megadeth drummer, is playing on one track. Positioned as a female led band the two master minds in the current line up are Jennifer Summer for the American side (lead vocals) and Sam Oerlemans for the Belgian side (guitar/song writing). I don’t think classifying the second album by this band as melodic metal is actually doing justice to this emerging talent. When I watched the Blue Lotus video, the visuals were lurking more towards the indie scene than metal. Don’t get me wrong the music is rich and riff oriented but also alternates quieter and more atmospheric moments.

Opening the ball is Unsatisfy a mid tempo track with its aerial solace and superb vocals. Lovely Day To Kill has drums that remind me of the alternative group Dada at times while My Prediction has a more contemporary feel and could easily have been mistaken for a track from the Breeders. Hitherside has a strong songwriting ability. Without any doubt it’s superior to most groups but it's also clear it is still in a development phase. Blue Lotus has a touch of Tool and the nervous Get It Back is a great tune that benefits from subtle arrangements. Overall Hitherside has a very distinctive identity.

For example Asked But Not Answered the closing track is no musical collage the various styles are genuinely intertwined with brio, taste and talent and I would have loved if they had pushed the boundaries a bit further on that track. This full length is very encouraging and while not all the tracks are equally strong the vocals alongside a strong musicianship will definitely place those guys on my watch list. They are just different. 8/10

Brothers In Arms: Brothers In Arms (Swell Creek Records) [Liam]

I’m not a big fan of the hardcore genre. I mean the music is good but the fanbase and that ridiculous hardcore dancing ruins it. But anyway, on with the review. This album is pretty decent for a hardcore record. There are a few guitar hooks and part that had me singing along. Opener 161 is straight up face melting hardcore. But the songs that really take the spot are One With The Violence, Weapon Of Choice & Bound To The Hardcore. Those songs are just perfect and a good way to lure someone into hardcore without just dropping them straight in the whirlpool. This is a gem of an album and a underground masterpiece. 8/10

Okilly Dokilly: Howdilly Twodilly (Self Released) [Liam]

The concept of a Ned Flanders metal band is quite frankly stupid. But, somehow, Okilly Dokilly have pulled it off. I was a big fan of their debut album Howdilly Doodilly. With the main single White Wine Spritzer being a personal favorite. With singer Head Ned being the only remaining member from the first album, it’s a different sound they’ve gone for with this record. Mainly sticking to the low guttural vocal side rather than switching between the highs and the lows is a bit of a let down for me. The instrumental side of the album is brilliant.

The riffs and drum work complement each other that it’s impossible to either air guitar or drum along to the songs. But the album itself seems a bit draw out and stale. Kind of like it was rushed and they didn’t really have many ideas going into the studio. I mean some of them work, such as I Can’t It’s A Geo & Purple Drapes being favorites of mine on the record. But the record itself is down by the fact that there’s not many singalongs like the first. Shame really. 6/10

Suzi Quatro: No Control (SPV) [Pascal]

I read the name on the file twice. Repeat after me I said to myself: Suzi Quatro. OMG this is intimidating. Partly because her name is iconic in the genre of glam, hard rock, garage rock or blues and partly because I am not very knowledgeable about her body of work. Even though I am not that young, I was not even born when she started so really how am I going to approach that one in terms of references? Call me a heretic but how about we treat this review as if it was her first album (at least to me).

First track No Soul No Control is a nice hard rockin’ tune with a cool keyboard swing. Here Suzi claims her independence, and rightfully so. Was she not one of the first rocking girl in the 70’s who opened the doors for the likes of Joan Jett, the Runaways and other Girlschool? Its classic and efficient albeit not mind blowing. Same can be said for the tracks Macho Man and Heavy Duty which are both well delivered. Apart from these tracks I'm really failing to get excited about tracks such as Going Home despite its harmonica and sing along chorus, Love Isn’t Fair is pretty insipid, the rest is of the same vein with some Mexican, Caribbean influences, jazz or blues arrangements depending on the track.

For example Easy Picking is a pop blues tribute that leaves me cold. Maybe the nostalgics and die hard fans will probably have a different opinion but this is not current (and does not pretend to be), even the production while being very slick is a bit stuck in a time warp too. I think if you are willing to take a trip to memory lane this album is probably for you but in all honesty I am not sure it was a necessary add-on to her legacy.

Maybe it's time for Suzi to adopt a position similar to Billy Joel who consciously stopped recording more than two decades ago in order to concentrate on live shows and mini tours. As we are reaching the final part of the review, I am wetting my pants at the idea I have to give a review score to such a legend. I suppose out of respect I'd have to give: 6/10