Awaken The Giant Tackles Mental Health, Addiction In New Single

Courtesy: O’Donnell Media Group

Awaken The Giant debuted its latest single this week.

The band premiered its new single, ‘Feel Alive‘ Thursday. The song’s debut comes more than two months after the band unveiled its then latest single, ‘Hypnotize.’

The overall musical arrangement featured in ‘Feel Alive’ presents a familiar melodic hard rock sound and style that fits well into any active rock radio programmer’s playlist. The overall sound is easily comparable to works from the likes of Finger Eleven, Three Days Grace, and others of that ilk. However, the screams that are incorporated into the song’s final bars present an equally interesting metalcore vibe.

The band discussed the song’s lyrical theme in a prepared statement.

“‘Feel Alive’ is a song about being caught up in depression and addiction, being in a crowded situation and not feeling part of it, and feeling eager to fast forward to the future in hopes of a better life and to feel alive again,” the statement reads.

In other news, Awaken The Giant has announced a series of live dates set to launch Feb. 25 in Houston, TX in support of its new EP, Black and Blue. Its release date is under consideration.

The band’s upcoming live run also features a performance alongside the likes of Seether, Nonpoint, and 3 Doors Down April 2 at the CPR Fest in Biloxi, Miss. The band’s tour dates are noted below.

Awaken The Giant Show Dates:

Friday 2/25 Houston, TX @Acadia Bar

Sunday 2/27 Tulsa, Oklahoma w/Kingdom Collapse @ The Vanguard

Monday 2/28 Memphis, Tennessee w/Kingdom Collapse @ Growlers

Tuesday 3/1 Fort Walton Beach, FL @ DownTown Music Hall

Saturday 3/5 – Pascagoula, Mississippi @ The Celtic Irish Pub

Friday 3/11 Katy, TX @The Wildcatter Saloon w/Uncured, Versus Me & Madame Mayhem

Friday 3/18 New Orleans, Louisiana @ Babylon Music & Sports Bar

Saturday 4/2 CPR FEST with 3 Doors Down, Seether, Badflower, Nonpoint

Black & Blue has produced not only its title track as a single, but also ‘I Fooled You‘ and ‘Hypnotize.’ The track listing for Feel Alive is noted below.

Black & Blue Tracklisting:

1. Feel Alive

2. 2 Pump Chump

3. Hypnotize

4. I Fooled You

5. Make Believe

6. Seen Enough

More information on Awaken The Giant’s new single is available along with all of the duo’s latest news at https://www.facebook.com/awakenthegiantband.

To keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews, go online to https://www.facebook.com/phispicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Keith Wallen Debuts ‘Fractured’ Video; New Album Available Now

Courtesy: O’Donnell Media Group

Breaking Benjamin guitarist debuted the video for his latest single this week.

Wallen premiered the video for his new single, ‘Fractured’ Thursday.  The single and its video are the second from Wallen’s new solo album, This World or the Next.  Wallen premiered the video album’s lead single, ‘Wildfire’ July 30.  This World or the Next is available now.

The musical arrangement featured in ‘Fractured’ exhibits some influence from Breaking Benjamin. At the same time, the pairing of his vocals with the instrumentation also lends the song to comparison to works from Finger Eleven.

According to Wallen, the lyrical theme that accompanies the song’s musical arrangement centers on the topic of a toxic relationship and its impact on those involved in that relationship.

“‘Fractured’ is about pouring your adoration into someone you love or someone you look up to, but all they do is leave you feeling disappointed,” he said. “You wish they could be different, but there’s no changing or fixing the way a person is, they have to want to change for themselves. Until they do, your wounds will remain open.”

The video for ‘Fractured’ is simple and does an impressive job of helping to translate the message in the noted theme. It features Wallen taking a baseball bat to a room full of furniture and other items, releasing the tension that is clearly brought on by the noted toxic relationship. Viewers can only wish that was them doing just that, sometimes including this critic.

This World or the Next is available to stream and download now through Spotify and Apple Music.

More information on Keith Wallen’s new single, video, and album is available along with all of his latest news at:

Website: https://keithwallen.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KeithWallenMusic

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kjwallen

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Bulletproof Messenger Returns After More Than A Decade With New Single

Courtesy: O’Donnell Media Group

Hard rock act Bulletproof Messenger released its first new music in more than a decade this week.

The band debuted its new single, ‘The Divide‘ Thursday. The song features a heavy, guitar-driven arrangement that will appeal to fans of bands, such as Three Days Grace, Breaking Benjamin, and Finger Eleven. In relation, the song is a solid fit for any active rock radio programmer’s playlist.

The lyrical theme that accompanies the song is a commentary on the state of the world, according to a statement from the band.

“It’s about overcoming our differences, the challenges we face, and getting back to living life the way we were meant to live it, not through an artificial means of communication, but face to face and in person” the statement reads.

More information on Bulletproof Messenger’s new single is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:

Website: https://bulletproofmessenger.co

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BulletproofMessenger

Twitter: https://twitter.com/wearebpm

To keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews, go online to https://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Madame Mayhem Debuts ‘Breaking Down’ Lyric Video

Courtesy: FM Music/The Fuel Music

Independent rock artist Madame Mayhem debuted the video for her latest single this week.

Madame Mayhem (a.k.a. Natalie Ann Cohen) debuted the lyric video for her new single ‘Breaking Down‘ Friday.  The song features a melodic hard rock arrangement that will appeal to fans of bands, such as Breaking Benjamin, The Veer Union and other similar acts.

The song’s lyrical content comes across as a message about someone who has gone through much difficulty in life, but ultimately refuses to give up despite experiencing those trials.  This is inferred late in the song as she sings, “I am not breaking down this time.”  The energy in her vocal delivery emphasizes that resolve, adding to its impact.

According to information provided about the new song, Cohen co-wrote the song with Brian Vodihn (10 Years) and enlisted Grammy-nominated producer Johnny K (Finger Eleven, Disturbed, Megadeth) to produce the song.  He is just one more of the big names who played a part in the song’s creation.

The information provided about the new single states Billy Sheehan (The Winery Dogs, Mr. Big), Jason “J Bomb” Harrison and keith Wallen (Breaking Benjamin) also took part in the song’s creation.

‘Breaking Down’ is available to stream and download through Spotify, iTunes, Google Play, and Amazon.

More information on Madame Mayhem’s new single and video is available along with all of her latest news at:

 

Website: http://www.madamemayhem.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/madamemayhem

Twitter: http://twitter.com/MayhemOfficial

 

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Romantic Rebel Added To Smile Empty Soul’s “Shapeshifter Tour 2016” LIneup

Courtesy: O’Donnell Media Group

Romantic Rebel is headed back out on the road.

The band announced Monday that it will join Smile Empty Soul on the road this summer for the band’s “Shapeshifter Tour 2016.”  The tour launches this Friday, July 15^th in St. Louis, MO.  It will share time on stage as support for Smile Empty Soul alongside The Everyday Losers, Shallow Side, and Beitthemeans on the tour.  Romantic Rebel’s upcoming live dates are in support of its upcoming EP Begin Again.  The band announced Monday that fans who come out to its live shows will be able to pick up Begin Again before its official release date, which has not yet been announced.

Singer KT Paige recently sat down to discuss the EP and what it means not just to her but to the band in whole.  She noted in her discussion the work put into the songs not only by herself but also by guitarist Alex Vincent, who co-wrote the record, and by producer Johnny K (Disturbed, Pop Evil, Finger Eleven, Sevendust, 3 Doors Down, Megadeth, Machine Head, Nonpoint, etc.), who helmed the EP and is also working with the band on its upcoming as yet untitled sophomore album.  “This EP is very special to us,” she said.  “Alex and I wrote these songs from the heart; about past experiences and struggles.  That said, we were very attached to them and didn’t want to see them change.  Johnny, being the multi-talented producer that he is, helped us take the songs we thought couldn’t get any better to a whole new level.  It’s amazing how a simple change in melody can make me feel even more emotional about a song than I had felt previously.”

While waiting for Romantic Rebel’s new EP to be released audiences can purchase the EP’s lead single ‘Too Far’ now online via iTunes.  The single’s companion video is currently streaming on the band’s official YouTube channel now.  More information on Romantic Rebel’s latest tour schedule is available online now along with all of the band’s latest news at:

 

 

 

Website: http://www.RomanticRebelBand.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/RomanticRebelRocks

Twitter: http://twitter.com/rr_the_band

 

 

 

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2015 Saw A Number Of Great Rock Records Released

2015 has been a great year for the rock community. That is because so many standout albums have been released this year. This includes new rock albums both in the underground and the mainstream. There have been so many outstanding rock albums released so far this year that there was just not enough room for all of them on just one list (that is unless one were to make a list of the year’s top 100 new rock albums). Keeping that in mind, it couldn’t have been easy for any critic to develop a year-ender for the year’s best new rock records. It definitely wasn’t easy for this critic. This critic’s list of the year’s best new rock records presents albums from some relatively well-known bands and some that might not be so widely-known. Regardless of how well-known said acts (and albums) are, it can be said that each wholly deserves its spot on this list thanks to musical and lyrical content that is more apt to keep listeners engaged from beginning to end than any other band or album. Enough rambling. Without any further ado here is the list of those bands and their respective albums. This is the Phil’s Picks ‘ 2015 Top 10 New Rock Albums. As with every other list, the main body of the list is made up of the year’s Top 10 Best new records. The bottom five receive honorable mention for a total of fifteen albums.

 

PHIL’S PICKS 2015 TOP 10 NEW ROCK ALBUMS

1. BACHMAN – HEAVY BLUES 
2. MICHEAL SCHENKER’S TEMPLE OF ROCK – SPIRIT ON A MISSION 
3. THE WINERY DOGS – HOT STREAK 
4. FINGER ELEVEN – FIVE CROOKED LINES 
5. JOE SATRIANI – SHOCKWAVE SUPERNOVA 
6. BLACKBERRY SMOKE – HOLDING ALL THE ROSES 
7. EVERCLEAR – BLACK IS THE NEW BLACK 
8. SPOCK’S BEARD – THE OBLIVION PARTICLE 
9. QUEENSRYCHE – CONDITION HUMAN 
10. DEVIL CITY ANGELS – DEVIL CITY ANGELS 
11. RUSSKAJA – PEACE, LOVE, AND RUSSIAN ROLL 
12. BARENAKED LADIES – SILVERBALL 
13. POP EVIL – UP 
14. UFO – A CONSPIRACY OF STARS 
15. TEENAGE BOTTLEROCKET – TALES FROM WISCONSIN

 

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Five Crooked Lines Gets Five Gold Stars

Courtesy: The Bicycle Music Company/Concord

Five years have passed since audiences last heard from Finger Eleven. That is a long time in itself in music industry years. Now though, that long wait is finally over. That is because next month the Canadian-based rock outfit will release its latest album Five Crooked Lines. The album, the band’s sixth, will be released July 31st via The Bicycle Music Company/Concord. Listening to this record from beginning to end, it is safe to say that the wait for this album was well worth it. Of the album’s twelve total tracks, there is not one bad number to be heard. As a matter of fact, it could even be argued that this record is F11’s most radio ready record to date. That is because any one of its tracks could be used as a single. The band has obvious already taken that to heart and released the album’s lead single ‘Wolves and Doors.’ Fans of the band’s 2007 album Them vs. You vs. Me will appreciate this song and its companion video. It’s just one example of what makes Five Crooked Lines so enjoyable. There are also two very upbeat, optimistic pieces in the form of ‘Not Going To Be Afraid’ and ‘Blackout Song’ that could just as easily be used as singles. Whether for those two works, for the album’s lead single or for any of its other songs, it can be said that Five Crooked Lines gets five gold stars.

Finger Eleven’s latest full-length studio release Five Crooked Lines is the best and most radio ready album that the veteran band has released to date. Any one of its dozen total tracks could be used to serve as singles to represent it. It has already shown that with the release of its lead single ‘Wolves and Doors.’ This song is one that will instantly hit fans of the band’s 2007 album Them vs. You vs. Me. The reason being that its musical content sounds a lot like that of that album’s hit single ‘Paralyzer.’ Lyrically though, it is far deeper. Front man Scott Anderson comes across in this piece as singing about taking chances and making the most of life. That can be inferred as he sings in the song’s lead verse, “Step right on out/Of the zone of comfort/A little left of center/One step outside your head/Take all these words/Take all this time/You gotta spend it somewhere/Keep your delusion well-fed/Keep your soul for another day/Cause the game’s the game/And the wolves at the door remain.” That argument is made even stronger as he sings in the song’s second verse, “Come save their world/Come move that mountain/Make all the difference/Step up above the rest/Give every inch and all your energy/ And don’t let up until they say/What you think they think is best/Save your soul for another day/Cause the game’s the game/And the wolves at the door remain.” It’s an interesting statement and one that will definitely have listeners talking. That one line in which Anderson states, “Don’t let up until they say what you think they think is best” is one of the most interesting of the song’s lines. It’s Anderson saying to listeners, “stand your ground and don’t give in regardless of the situation.” The way that Anderson has worded it is a little bit of a twist. But once listeners really think about it, it becomes a deep statement. That statement taken with the rest of the song’s lyrics make for quite the depth. Partnered with guitarist Rick Jackett’s infectious guitar line (and later his solo), it proves even more why Five Crooked Lines is such a welcome return for F11. Audiences can hear the single for themselves now online at Vevo now at http://www.vevo.com/watch/finger-eleven/Wolves-And-Doors-(Music-Video)/QMFMK1500155.

‘Wolves and Doors’ is an excellent first impression from F11 in its return. Rick Jackett instantly takes audiences back to days gone by with his infectious guitar work. And front man Scott Anderson’s lyrics are sure to leave listeners talking just as much. The combination of both elements prove why the song was chosen as the album’s lead single. It is just one example of what makes this record the band’s best and most radio ready to date. ‘Not Going To Be Afraid,’ the album’s mid-point, is just as strong of an example of what makes Five Crooked Lines so impressive. It’s obvious in listening to this song that the band put a lot of thought into its creation. That is because Jackett’s guitar line and Anderson’s own vocal delivery perfectly match the tone of the verses and choruses. The verses, in which Anderson sings about so much personal strife are made especially emotionally gripping thanks to Anderson’s own heart-wrenching vocal delivery style set alongside Jackett’s equally moving guitar line. What is really interesting here is that the song doesn’t just jump musically from its verses to the chorus. Rather the verses progress from those emotionally powerful verses to the more optimistic chorus in which Anderson sings, “Even though it’s so dark/I see one last spark/Maybe hope’s not far away/Heaven can’t help me/But courage could sell me/I’m one last chance/I should take.” He goes on to sing in the song’s chorus, “Fear has always known my name/Play me just like a game/ Today won’t be the same/I’m not gonna be afraid/Crushing overwhelming doubt/Scream a little louder shout/Then whatever happens now/I’m not gonna be afraid.” That emotional back and forth (in musical terms, that’s called an ABAB structure) makes this song just as solid a representative for Five Crooked Lines as ‘Wolves and Doors.’ It is just as sure to be a fan favorite as that song or any of the others that make up the album’s body. That being the case, it shows once more why Five Crooked Lines is the band’s best album to date and its most radio-ready.

Both ‘Wolves and Doors’ and ‘Not Going To Be Afraid’ clearly show why the wait for Five Crooked Lines was well worth the wait. They are only two examples of why it was worth the wait, too. ‘Blackout Song’ is yet another example of why the wait was worth it. It is more celebratory than emotional yet still just as optimistic, if that makes any sense. Explaining the song in terms of its musical and lyrical content will perhaps make that clearer. The song’s title alone gives its own hint that the song is yet another piece that will put a smile on listeners’ faces. That certainly proves true as the band kicks into the song. The song’s opening bars see the band singing in almost a chorus effect before Anderson takes the reins, singing, “I told myself I’d/Stay in tonight/But here I am with no end in sight/I feel amazing/And if you are willing/This is only the beginning/So get here right now/You’ve got to come down/I’m calling you out/Let’s stay up all night/And we’ll sing/For everything good in our lives/Let’s stay up all night/And we’ll say f*** everything we never tried.” If that opening verse and chorus set alongside the song’s upbeat musical content doesn’t get listeners happily singing along, then there’s no telling what will. By themselves, they are yet another reflection of the album’s title and Anderson’s explanation behind it and how it is meant to invoke positive thoughts. The song’s second verse and chorus mirror that thought pattern just as much, as Anderson sings, “Put a song on/I don’t care which one/Cause I’ll only get the words wrong/I’ll change the meaning/To just how I’m feeling/Cause I don’t feel much like leaving/So get here right now/You’ve got to come down/I’m calling you out/Let’s stay up all night/And we’ll sing/For everything good in our lives/Let’s stay up all night/And we’ll sing/f*** everything we never tried.” He goes on late in the song to expand even more singing how people will remember the song’s subject because he had such a good time. It is just a great, feel-good song that is just as certain as either of the previously noted songs to be a fan favorite and/or single. That is thanks to those infectious hooks and choruses that make up its body. Of course its overall bright outlook on everything doesn’t hurt, either. It is just one more great touch to an album that is overall F11’s best album to date and its most radio ready. Even more simply put, it is one more song that, along with the previously noted songs and with those not noted here, proves without a doubt that Five Crooked Lines was well worth the wait and gets five gold stars.

Five Crooked Lines has been five years in the making. While it may have been a long time coming, it proves from beginning to end to be an album that was well worth the wait. Every one of the dozen songs that make up the body of the record proves this. The trio of songs already noted are just a few examples of what audiences have in store when this record hits store. Whether it be one or all of those songs or any of the album’s other works, audiences will agree in hearing Five Crooked Lines that there is not one bad song on this record. It is in fact the band’s best record to date and its most radio-ready record, too. It will be available in stores Tuesday, July 31st via The Bicycle Music Company/Concord Music Group. Fans will also be able to pick up the album at any of the band’s live dates on its current tour. Fans can check out the band’s current tour schedule and get its latest news online now at:

Website: http://www.fingereleven.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FingerEleven

Twitter: http://twitter.com/Finger_Eleven

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Finger Eleven Announces Details For New Album, Touris

Courtesy: The Bicycle Music Company/Concord

Finger Eleven has made it official. It will release its sixth full-length studio recording this summer.

Five years removed from the release of its 2010 album Life Turns Electric the Canadian rock group will release its new album Five Crooked Lines. The album is currently slated to be released on Friday, July 31st via The Bicycle Music Company/Concord. In regards to the album’s title, front man Scott Anderson explained that it stemmed from the lyrics to the album’s title track. He explained that five crooked lines can be used to make something ordinary or something extraordinary, and how that ability to use such lines is linked to the fragility of fortune and luck. “For me it’s symbolic of fortune and luck and how fragile those things are,” he said. “In one instance you’ve got five crooked lines, which in one position is just a heap of bent sticks. But in the right way, they make a star, which is the most glorious shape there is.” Fans can download Five Crooked Lines via iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/five-crooked-lines/id999975916 and order it via Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Five-Crooked-Lines-Finger-Eleven/dp/B00YV9OIW2/?tag=concordreco0c-20.

In anticipation of the album’s upcoming release, the band has debuted the video for its lead single ‘Wolves and Doors’ online. The video, which cuts between shots of the band performing its new song and shots of other rather intriguing images, can be viewed online at http://www.vevo.com/watch/finger-eleven/Wolves-And-Doors-(Music-Video)/QMFMK1500155. The band also announced that it will hit the road ahead of the album’s release beginning Saturday, June 13th in Burlington, Ontario at the Sound of Music Festival. Three Days Grace will join the band on select dates. Finger Eleven’s current tour schedule is listed below.

Check out FINGER ELEVEN at any of the following stops, with more dates to be announced in the coming weeks:

DATE CITY VENUE

Sat 6/13 Burlington, ONT. Sound of Music Festival

Thu 6/18 Franksville, WI Krautfest

Fri 6/19 Newton, IA Iowa Speedway (NASCAR Camping World Truck Series)

Sat 6/20 Joliet, IL Mojoes

Sun 6/21 Traverse City, MI Ground Zero

Fri 7/3 Warwick, PQ. Festival Hommes Fort Warwick

Thu 7/9 Pittsburgh, PA Stage AE

* Fri 7/10 Lansing, MI Common Ground Music Festival

* Sat 7/11 Columbus, OH LC Pavilion

* Mon 7/13 Nashville, TN Cannery Ballroom

* Tue 7/14 Louisville, KY Diamond Pub Concert Hall

* Wed 7/15 Peoria, IL Limelight

Thu 7/16 Cadott, WI Rock Fest

Sat 7/18 Walker, MN Moondance Jam

* Tue 7/21 Stroudsburg, PA Sherman Theater

* Wed 7/22 Portland, ME State Theater

Fri 7/24 Dayton, OH Oddbody’s Music Room

Sat 7/25 St. Louis, MO Fubar

Sun 7/26 Springfield, MO Gillioz Theatre

Mon 7/27 Fayetteville, AR George’s Majestic

* Tue 7/28 Wichita Falls, TX Kay Yeager Coliseum

Thu 7/30 Clive, IA 7 Flags Event Center

Fri 7/31 Sioux City, IA Hard Rock Hotel

Sun 8/2 Fort Wayne, IN Piere’s

Mon 8/3 Cleveland, OH The Agora Ballroom

Tue 8/4 Buffalo, NY Iron Works

Wed 8/5 Manchester, NH Jewel

Fri 8/14 Mount Brydges, ONT. RockinWheel Fest Lion’s Park

* With Three Days Grace

All of the latest updates on Finger Eleven’s upcoming tour dates and album are available online now along with all of the band’s latest news at:

Website: http://www.fingereleven.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FingerEleven

Twitter: http://twitter.com/Finger_Eleven

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

A Cold Fire From The One I Loved A Solid First Effort From Dorean Lives

Courtesy: Red Cord Records

Dorean Lives has officially put itself onto this critic’s list of the year’s best new independent releases.  The Birmingham, Alabama based band has proven with its debut record that it can easily hold its own with some of mainstream rock’s biggest names.  A Cold Fire From The One I Loved boasts a dozen tracks that are just as solid as anything released by Chevelle, Breaking Benjamin, and others of that ilk.  Front man and band founder Logan Freeman even sounds like Chevelle’s Pete Loeffler as he and his band mates make their way through the album’s near hour long run time.  If a person were to listen to this album not knowing it wasn’t one of the aforementioned bands, one would actually think it was one of them.  Audiences will be grabbed right from the album’s opener, ‘Shiver Breathe Repeat.’  The song’s musical side will grab listeners and hold them throughout the song.  Lyrically, it’s sure to have listeners thinking.  The song’s lyrics are slightly cryptic.  It could be argued to be based in a relationship issue.  That argument could be made as Freeman sings, “I breathe you in/Shiver/Just Breathe with me/It won’t be long till/This is all you know/And just is/Whether it’s a twitch of the eye/Or a vision that’s not there/Don’t you/Shiver, breathe, repeat.”  The song’s  moody musical side serves as fuel for that argument.

‘Shiver Breathe Repeat’ is a good starting point for Dorean Lives.  It is a solid first impression from the band, especially considering everything that the band’s members faced over the years.  ‘Shores’ is another of the album’s high points.  Anyone that is a fan of Switchfoot will appreciate this mid-tempo rocker.  Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this song is not so much the song’s musical or even lyrical side, but Freeman’s vocal style.  At first Freeman sounded somewhat like Chevelle’s Pete Loeffler.  Somehow, he has managed to make himself sound more like Finger Eleven’s Rick Jackett.  This is especially the case when he hits the high notes, singing, “I’ve got this burnt skin/On my hands/From test faith/It’s true/As I turn my eyes/From the crested waves I’d hoped I’d see/I still hope to see you.”  That vocal talent set alongside the song’s equally solid musical and lyrical sides makes this song even more one to check out.

The members of Dorean Lives exhibit quite a talent for writing and musicianship throughout this record, as one should be able to note by now.  For those that are perhaps not yet convinced of this, a single listen to ‘The Fear That Brought Us’ will perhaps do the tricks.  This seemingly socially conscious song grabs listeners right from its opening seconds with the subtle ringing of bells that suddenly disappear before the band launches full speed into the song.  Freeman sings in this work, “So who among you led the sheep to wolves/So who among you led them to their death/It was you/It was you.”  These short lines are some of the album’s most powerful.  They come across as a social statement of sorts that addresses false leaders.  Now whether those leaders are political or otherwise can only be answered by the band.  But that supposition is made even clearer earlier in the song when Freeman sings, “But who drove you to do this/Sweet deceiver/to lead them along/Tell them their wrongs/To hold their hands/Cause you’re so sure/That’s what faith is.”  It’s even clearer here that Freeman must be singing about false religious leaders, of whom there are quite a number.  If Freeman’s intent was indeed to address said false leaders, then he and his band mates did quite the job of doing so.  It’s sad that there are in fact such individuals out there.  It’s good to see that in this song, a whistleblowing call to arms of sorts.  It’s just one more piece of the whole that audiences will enjoy with each listen.  And audiences can liten any time they want as A Cold Fire From The One I Loved I available now.  It can be ordered online at http://www.redcordrecords.com/releases.  More information on the band’s debut record, its tour dates and more is available online at http://www.facebook.com/DoreanLives and http://www.doreanlives.com.  To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.