Reviews roundup – Days We Are Even vs. Chrome Cabot vs. Sir Reg

Reviews roundup – Days We Are Even vs. Chrome Cabot vs. Sir Reg

DAYS WE ARE EVEN
Himalaya
Sonic Revolution

You want to know the problem with modern metal? Simple. It’s not very metal. In fact, it tends to be I’m not getting back in the bus metal. And so it proves to be with Swiss rockers Days We Are Even, who really ought to have called their record Alp.

For sure, there are some good riffs hither and thither, but it falls short of bludgeoning you about the head which, surely, is the whole point of metal. I suppose if you’re the kind of idiot who thinks that Foo Fighters and Queens of the Stone Age are in way, shape or form, metal, then you might go for this, but any who knows all the words to ‘London Leather Boys’ will scoff, snarl and walk away in a more interesting direction.

So, the reality is, that this is abrasive indie rock, albeit with a good production and a couple of songs that almost lift off. Now, give me some metal.

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CHROME CABOT
Rock Cuisine
Self released

So when is an album not an album? When it’s an 8 track EP. Which makes it an album in old money. And old money is where it’s at for Chrome Cabot (an in joke for Newfoundlanders and fans of Zuan Chabotto) and their dreadfully titled album. Because this is eighties styled hard rock, straight out of the Sunset Strip circa 1985. So right up my boulevard then.

Of course it’s possible that the eighties have only just arrived in Newfoundland where Chrome Cabot started life as a covers band. But any dudes who claim to be influenced by the likes of Judas Priest, W.A.S.P., Van Halen, Dokken, Kiss and the like are alright by me. Granted, they haven’t actually written a classic song yet, but there is a great deal of fun to be had with tunes like ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll Animal’, ‘Ready To Ride’ and, ahem, ‘Bottoms Up’. Rather delightfully you’ll have to go to Fred’s Records and HMV in St. John’s, Newfoundland to buy a copy, but you can get a download at CDBaby or iTunes.

SIR REG
21st Century Loser
Heptown Records

Sadly not a new album by Elton John, but rather the third full length album from Swedish-Irish Celtic-punk band Sir Reg. So Flogging Molly then. A comparison not helped by the fact that Sir Reg vocalist Brendan Sheehy sounds an awfy lot like Dave ‘Treeman’ King, his Irish compatriot.

But there’s room for more than one Celtic punk band, and as these things go, Sir Reg are very good indeed. They’ve got a political edge to their songs that works well both when they attack the material with vitriol or despondancy. And songs like ‘We’ll Rise Again’ and ‘Live For Today’ see them addressing the problems of modern day Ireland with applomb. But they can also do emotional and heartfelt, with album highlight ‘City of Tragedy’ the peak of their songwriting prowess.

For a bunch of Swedes (Erik on drums, Chris on guitar, Juba on bass, Mats on bouzouki, and Karin on violin) they have a remarkable affinity for Celtic rhythms and even if there a couple of fillers, this is one of the most vibrant albums you’re likely to hear this year.

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SIR REG – ‘Til the Dead Come Alive video