Excel was/is a thrash band out of Venice, California who started out more of a crossover thrash band but by 1995, when this record, Seeking Refuge, dropped, the band was leaning way more towards stoner metal, more Trouble, Manic Frustration era, than DRI, and maybe this was what the band was meant to be because Seeking Refuse is awesome.
Seeking Refuge came out in 1995 and given what was going on then this could have been a big record, but alas it was not, but at least we get to relive it now with Southern Lord giving us a repress of this lost gem. I mention stoner metal, but these guys could have easily associated with all the heavy stuff going on in Seattle, with bands like My Sister’s Machine and Willard being good reference points. A song like Hair Like Christ is a good example.
Drowned Out is another, with some serious early Soundgarden vibes musically. Take Your Part Gotta Encourage to me sounds like something from the first Mindfunk record, as Excel certainly has a groove too. Speaking of groove, Excel’s guitarist, Adam Siegel, played lead with Infectious Grooves, which makes sense when listening to Seeking Refuge, as under all this stoner grunge there is quite the groove going on and also some serious Suicidal Tendencies vibes, but the more 90s stuff than the early thrash stuff.
Alice In Chains vibes? Sure, listen to United Naturally In True Youth for that. For folks reading this of a certain age you will have to wonder how we missed this back in the day, but at least we can get to experience the lost gem that is Seeking Refuge now. Excel was short lived, especially during this stylistic period, but wow is this album killer. Great 90s stuff and if you liked heavy rock back then this should be firmly in your wheelhouse. 8/10
Gigi Gold – Souvenirs (Marshall Records) [Paul Scoble]
Coming originally from West Virginia, Gigi Gold discovered an interest in music at College, forming several bands including Ghost Riders In The Sky and Lyoness. Gigi decided strike out on her own as a solo artist, and Souvenirs is her first EP. Souvenirs is a five track Ep coming in at 18 minutes long. Souvenirs opens with the song Why Should I a pulsing piece of boogie blues with great energy, a wonderful swagger and an awesome chorus.
Gigi Gold – Souvenirs (Marshall Records) [Paul Scoble]
Coming originally from West Virginia, Gigi Gold discovered an interest in music at College, forming several bands including Ghost Riders In The Sky and Lyoness. Gigi decided strike out on her own as a solo artist, and Souvenirs is her first EP. Souvenirs is a five track Ep coming in at 18 minutes long. Souvenirs opens with the song Why Should I a pulsing piece of boogie blues with great energy, a wonderful swagger and an awesome chorus.
After Why Should I comes You Ain’t Changed a great piece of mid-paced americana. It’s got a taut, soulful verse and a much bigger chorus. Stare Up At The Sky is an affecting melancholy ballad with a dark and brooding atmosphere, and a great, very emotive performance. Next comes Black Water Falls, just acoustic guitar and beautiful vocals, it reminds me of some of 40 Watt Sun’s more recent material. The song is achingly beautiful and showcases how strong and full of personality Gold’s voice is. The EP comes to an end with the song Hot Coals. A dark singer songwriter style song, with a brighter chorus that feels like an answer to the darker verse section.
It’s a great track to bring the EP to an end as the melody from the chorus stays with you, encouraging you to listen again. Souvenirs is a great EP, particularly as it is Gold’s first solo release. The song are very well written and performed, and this sounds like an EP from an established act, not a first solo release, this bodes well for Gold’s future career as a complete album of this quality would be extremely impressive. 8/10
Braindrag - Coure Roent (Wormholedeath Records) [James Jackson]
From the first bar of Nexe Electric, Spain’s Braindrag are pushing an alt rock, sometimes Prog agenda; on their first full length album since the band’s inception in 2013, line up changes and global pandemics seem to have hindered but in no way halted the band’s progress. Vocal duties are performed by Mireia Perez, who joined the band in 2019, prompting an EP which featured remixes of the band’s previous work with her vocals now in place, there’s a quality to her voice that reminds me of another artist but the name escapes me.
Braindrag - Coure Roent (Wormholedeath Records) [James Jackson]
From the first bar of Nexe Electric, Spain’s Braindrag are pushing an alt rock, sometimes Prog agenda; on their first full length album since the band’s inception in 2013, line up changes and global pandemics seem to have hindered but in no way halted the band’s progress. Vocal duties are performed by Mireia Perez, who joined the band in 2019, prompting an EP which featured remixes of the band’s previous work with her vocals now in place, there’s a quality to her voice that reminds me of another artist but the name escapes me.
Coure Roent, Red Hot - if my web search is correct, is predominantly sung in the band’s native tongue and whilst the language barrier is obvious, it doesn’t impede the experience, for the most part, it’s an alt rock album as I previously mentioned, though there are moments that push something a little different to the fore, the bridge of Pro Human Race for example holds a taste of Eastern Mysticism about it.
Salta has a very Grunge style riff to open with, progressing through a stripped down verse and groove filled riffs. Lluna d’Argent relies heavily upon an effects laden riff to begin with, those Spanish lyrics, sultry tones on top of a quite hypnotic melody, the song building, adding layers of synth and guitar solos. Harnessing that prog rock influence in the track Batec and courting an almost country style for the intro of Try Not To Fail, a track which then shows hints of Grunge and something almost Trance like to its verses; shows the diversity of genres that Braindrag are more than capable of utilising in order to craft their music.
Bordering on 8 minutes long the track Rhapsody, previously released as a single, closes out the album and it encapsulates all that has gone before it, a very tripped out, winding riff supported by sound effects, strings and a building but subtle drum pattern, a song about self belief and inner strength that builds into a song very much the opposite to how it started; an urgency to the vocals alongside a more driven musical rock riff brings the track to life and its ultimate fruition. Overall an interesting and enjoyable album. 7/10
Lady Rage – Hear Me Screaming (Self Released) [Matt Bladen]
Angsty, pissed off and allies to the maligned and forgotten, Lady Rage release their debut album Hear Me Screaming. A set of defiant punk infused metal tracks, formed in 2019, they are a grungy punk metal foursome fronted by Siren Sycho’s raw, savage vocals, Kieren’s (who played on the album) bass lines giving groove to Falling Face First, Dee Chi Manic’s simple but punchy drums and new guitarist Nika playing distorted riffs and even some solos.
Lady Rage – Hear Me Screaming (Self Released) [Matt Bladen]
Angsty, pissed off and allies to the maligned and forgotten, Lady Rage release their debut album Hear Me Screaming. A set of defiant punk infused metal tracks, formed in 2019, they are a grungy punk metal foursome fronted by Siren Sycho’s raw, savage vocals, Kieren’s (who played on the album) bass lines giving groove to Falling Face First, Dee Chi Manic’s simple but punchy drums and new guitarist Nika playing distorted riffs and even some solos.
With the description you pretty much know what to expect, while the lyrics are personal, most are about losing hope and generally being lost in the malaise of modern life, the music is pretty simple, lots of repetition and I’m not too keen on the vocals either. Punk is not really my genre, but Lady Rage don’t inspire much for me, in the way a band such as Hawxx do, I’m afraid. 5/10
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