Time for a double bill of
reviews! First off, a kick-ass, old school hard rock band from Los Angeles,
California by the name of The Mercury Riots will be releasing their debut LP, In Solstice, on June 21st. Recorded
last year in Vancouver with legendary producer/engineer Mike Fraser (AC/DC, Metallica)
who co-produced, mixed, and engineered the album at The Warehouse Studio and
Armoury Studios. The mastering was done by Ryan Smith (The Black Keys, Greta Van
Fleet) at Sterling Sound. So, all the ingredients are here for an explosive LP.
The quartet delivers a unique
brand of muscle rock reminiscent of AC/DC and Aerosmith. Some of the highlights
in this 10-song collection include the opening track, “Make It”, where frontman
Justin Walker channels AC/DC’s Bon Scott for a fiery rock ‘n’ roll tune. The
first single, “Be Yours”, is catchy as all hell. “Sweet Melody” is a bluesy
retro ballad with melodic hooks. “Save Me a Drink” is an anthemic party song. The
closing track, “Nobody Knows”, with its epic feel and gorgeous guitar work is pure
perfection, and my favourite of the lot. The Mercury Riots put together a phenomenal
first effort that fans of melodic rock, hard rock, and classic rock will cherish
for years to come. In the end, In
Solstice is a celebration of rock ‘n’ roll at its finest.
The Mercury Riots Online: https://orcd.co/insolstice2
Next up, Motivik, a thrash
metal/melodic heavy metal duo comprised of multi-instrumentalist Ryan Roebuck
and vocalist Courtney Simmons out of Atlanta, Georgia will be releasing their
sophomore LP, Renouncement, on July 1st
through Roxx Records. This record is packed to the brim with 13 songs that feel
like a concept album at times. The LP features a multitude of guests such as
vocalists Jason Weaver, Chris Ackerman (Betrayal), Jason Wisdom (Becoming the Archetype)
and Andre Chiang (Shamash) to guitarists like Greg Minier (Applehead, The
Crucified) and Derek Corzine (Burial Extraction, Crowned in Sorrow).
Spectacular melodies and
infectious choruses abound on Renouncement.
Some of the highlights for me include “Dethroned”, a track that kicks the doors
off their hinges and immediately announces that Motivik aren’t taking any
prisoners. “Break the Walls” is a gem of a song with its melodic riffs and rhythms.
“This Man I Am” is an instant classic, a rallying cry for the masses. The first
single, “Harbinger of Demise”, is a stellar thrash metal tune and if you swapped
the word “demise” for “doom”, it could easily become this blog’s anthem. “Final
Hour” might be my favourite of the bunch and is easily the most accessible track
of the LP—a powerful and heartfelt song. “The Storm Within” with its machine
gun guitars features storytelling at its best in terms of songwriting. “Dead by
Daylight” has got riffs, guitar solos, and more riffs! “Once Again” is a terrific
closer filled with emotion; a grandiose song in every sense of the word.
Motivik puts on a masterclass in melodic heavy metal with Renouncement. Its superb instrumentation and high production values
make it an essential album to own for old school metal aficionados as well as
modern thrash fans.
Motivik on Bandcamp: https://motivik.bandcamp.com/album/renouncement
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