U.K. Metal band Rise To Addiction, have a solid release with their debut CD, A New Shade Of Black For The Soul (Mausoleum Records) produced by Metal magic making producer Andy Sneap (the mighty Stuck Mojo & many others). 12 songs with heavy 'in your face' guitars (that you would expect from Andy Sneap, as well as a killer tone) with catchy hooks that linger in your head with really good, emotional, 'heart on the sleeve' type of vocals. Heavy yet very radio friendly stuff here.
The CD opens with the track "Cold Season" that would easily find a home on any modern day Rock radio station, which basically sets the pace of this record. Rise To Addiction make it clear from the outset that they are out to grab your attention with A New Shade Of Black For The Soul. There is enough of a Metal twinge to make heavier fans happy, while also making their tunes accessible to more mainstream Rock fans. RTA do all of this while allowing themselves to stretch out on songs like "Everlasting Wave", that shows some nice songwriting chops, and provides a nice moody landscape. Vocals are handled by Leigh Oates, who honestly hits the ball out of the park with his tastefully soul wrenching pipes and are a consistent highlight throughout this record. No EMO whining on here and thank god! Imagine Badmotorfinger era Soundgarden, Chris Cornell mixed with Whitfield Crane of Ugly Kid Joe/Life Of Agony..goosebump stuff for sure.
RTA deliver some great performances all over this record. From the great soloing and heavy breakdowns of "To A God Unknown", to the slow, 8 plus minute Prog Rock feel of "Fessonia", guitarists John Slater & Steve Wray, bassist Joel Graham and drummer Aynsley Dickinson all tear it up on ew Shade Of Black For The Soul. The band has found a way of making a really good record that really never repeats itself. It finds itself easily radio ready, while being pretty heavy and never alienating either the harder rock fan or the mainstream fan. The Prog Rock fan will even find a few tracks that they can easily gravitate towards.
The amazing producer Andy Sneap, has once again found a new band to put his sonic stamp on and if you are a fan of catchy, well written Hard Rock songs with excellent vocals and solid riffy guitars that scream out with big hooks, then Rise To Addiction might be the band for you. A super solid debut CD!
Track Listing
- A New Shade
- Cold Season
- Moth To A Flame
- Falling As One
- Low
- One Sweet Minute
- This Ride
- Everlasting Wave
- I Follow
- To A God Unknown
- Fessonia
- The Hive
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