Molotov Solution “Insurrection” review
Molotov Solution
Robbie Pina – Guitar
Nick Arthur – Vocals
Shane Slade – Bass
Jacob Durrett – Drums
Richie Gomez – Guitar
review by Denise Borders
@punkworldviews
I’ve heard this band’s name thrown around a couple of times, but I had never listened to them until this record. I had no preconceived notions as to what they sounded like, except judging by the bands they’ve toured with…. I assumed they were a metal band. I kind of like going into an album review blind, that way it’s a clean slate so I can’t judge them from past stuff. However, I also don’t like it because… well… I can’t compare it to their older stuff because I’m not familiar with it! OOF. So anyway, in the words of Fergie, let’s get retarded in here!
11.7.11
Track List:
01 Sin & Sacrifice
02 Injustice For All
03 The Final Hour
04 The Blood of Tyrants
05 Divide & Conquer
06 Insurrection
07 Cruor Viaticus
08 Prophetic Illusions
09 CollapseDownload
10 Signals
11 Rise
Sin & Sacrifice starts the album off, and so far, so good. Has a semi-dramatic intro, but it’s a bit shorter than the average metal album-build up (which I’m okay with), and I get to hear Nick’s vocals for the first time. My initial reaction is… meh. Not bad or anything, just not like, “whoa, this dude’s voice is rad,” which is fine. What I did enjoy was the solid growls/screams. I don’t mind a clean vocalist every so often, but lately I feel a bit burnt out on the screamer vs. singer bands with all that going on.. it’s just becoming redundant and I’d almost prefer to have a dude get all red faced and veiny necked in my face the ENTIRE show. Score!
The second track, Injustice for All, impressed me a little more actually. Nick shows his vocal range a bit more with both higher pitched screams, lower growls, and then an almost understandable phase, “YOU’RE FUCKING DEAD TO ME.” Sweet, I understood something!! Don’t get me wrong, when I get to know an album very well, despite not knowing what the fuck they’re saying at first; I eventually figure it out after enough listens or look it up, whatever, but I’m not to that point yet with MS. So yeah, initially understanding a few of the lyrics helped me grasp the songs a bit more. But enough with that crap; the music itself has my approval. It’s a little predictable but it’s definitely right up my alley of tunage.
When The Blood of Tyrants started, I was like, “Oh, this is going to be my favorite track on the album.” Because well… at that point, it was! I was also getting more stoked on the album as a whole at this point because I feel like I liked each track better than the previous. I think that’s a good thing, even though in the end the first track could end up being my favorite… it’s nice to build up and up rather than be like “eww I liked the first one better” blah blah. This is another track that Nick has a bit more of an understanding scream, and the beat is a bit more catchy. I found myself almost head bobbing to the chorus just on the first listen. I had Sons of Anarchy playing on low volume in the background and it wasn’t until this track that I actually muted it all the way to listen to it again immediately. So far in the album, I can hear the technical guitar and I am okay with saying these dudes can definitely play.
Divide & Conquer starts off heavy as shit from the get-go, which I am SO INTO. I like when a song catches you off guard and let’s you hardly ever get comfortable with the flow. It doesn’t make it as catchy, but I think it’s why bands like Dillinger Escape Plan are a hit; you just don’t get bored. Once you familiarize yourself with it, you can air drum or guitar (whatever you choose) more in rhythm, but you still don’t get bored. Or well… I don’t. This song is chaotic and I like it. It’s got some sound bites that I don’t really understand. I don’t know if it’s Nick talking or a piece pulled from something, but I personally think they could have been left out. It doesn’t really enhance the song for me, but there must be SOME reason they put them in.
So at this point, I am into this album but not blown away. I am also an extremely tough crowd. I love metal, but it really takes something else to be blown away by a new record because it’s actually one of the most common genres sent over to me for review. So yeah.. it’s like Metal Monday EVERY DAY, which rules, but it also makes it harder to stand out. For now, I am backing this band and would totally support them on tour, go shoot them, be down for an interview, etc… Which would also give me a chance to check out their live performance (which definitely is important). They’re doing everything right, they’re just not distinguishing themselves apart from a lot of the other GOOD metal bands. But shit… it’s better than being shitty! I’m on team Molotov Solution, suckas.
Moving along, Cruor Viaticus has a cool intro, and then seems to be one of their more low-key tracks. Now.. I’m not really saying it’s low key, haha, but it’s a little slower, more breakdowns and whatnot than the others. This is showing their range and variety, so I’m stoked on it. About 4:00 into this track, I’m like, “shit… maybe this is my favorite track!” It’s got a little more character and originality than the others, so it stood out to me. While it’s not one of more head banging, kick a hole in the wall and run from the bouncers songs, I’m really digging it.
Skipping to Colapse, it’s another solid track. The guitar is mind blowing and really makes me want to watch Robbie and Richie shred live. A guy’s orgasm face is really similar to his intricate guitar solo jam face… sometimes. This song also has the wide range of metal vocals I like; the normal, low screams balanced with the higher pitched, more thrashy-deathcore like squeals. Collapse also does the double-scream mix, which I believe is something done in post-production but I’m not sure (as in, I’m not sure if live they’ll have two screams but on the album a scream is paired with a lower scream, etc..). Who knows, I’ll ask that hairy nippled producer, Jason Suecof, how that shit happens sometime and then bully him into telling me. (yes, I am aware he didn’t produce this album so you can steer your shit talking toward something else you hate about me)
The album ends tough (in a good way) with Rise. This track starts strong and doesn’t wither away into a “let’s just fade the track out because we don’t know how to end it” ending. It’s a good collaboration of slower breakdowns with upbeat riffs, reminding you of their variety and skill level as a band. You’ve got more technical guitar, I’d even call it a little Metallica-esque. It never stops though; even when you think it’s slowing down for more than a few seconds, it picks back up and illuminates their ability to keep you on your feet.
I don’t hear a lot of stuff from Seige of Amida Records, so I’m not sure if they focus mainly on metal or what, but I can see the appeal of these guys and look forward to catching a live show and more albums in the future. You can hear that they’re talented musicians, and when you look into the lyrics and whatnot, they aren’t just ridiculous OH MY GOD THIS IS METAL LET’S CHOP FACES OFF AND FUCK THE WOUNDS kind of songs (which I am totally not hating on), and it seems like they really give a shit about what they’re playing. I’m going to approve all of everything with this band: buy the record, go see a show, punch a face.
About the Author
Denise Borders 39, Los Angeles. Denise founded PWV in 2008 and remains the primary manager and photographer/videographer. She is not secretly obsessed with Joey Cape.
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