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Saturday, February 27, 2010

Review: The Upset Victory - Between The Walls And The Worlds That Sleep


The Upset Victory - Between The Walls And The Worlds That Sleep
2008, Take Over Digital Records


Cincinatti rockers The Upset Victory know exactly what they’re doing. Since their inception in 2006 the band has been featured on the Vans Warped Tour and in AMP magazine, producing 2 well-received EPs and touring with a host of national acts. With the release of Between The Walls And The Worlds That Sleep, The Upset Victory proved they were ready to play with the big boys. The Upset Victory are working on a full length album due in summer of 2010.

After the odd sound collage of A Galaxy Untamed, The Upset Victory kicks things off with The Genius Of Water. Featuring heavy, clockwork style guitar play overlaid with big melodic riffs and heavy rhythms, The Genius Of Water is a treat for Progressive and Hard Rock fans. Both Frank Hammonds (lead) and Frank Harrison Jr. (harmony) fare well on shared vocals, and this carries over into The Small Space Between You And The Sun. If it wasn't apparent in The Genius Of Water, The Small Space Between You And The Sun will give you an appreciation of the level of intricacy in The Upset Victory's guitar work (someone listened to a lot of Iron Maiden growing up). Signals is more of a big rock anthem, fit for the stadium nearest you. For a change of pace you might hear elements of Steve Howe's work with Asia in the guitar line of Signals, and the big harmonies are a definite throwback. The Upset Victory closes out with The Will, growing from synth and quickly crescendoing into a full onslaught of guitar-driven melodic metal. The Will relates to the resilience of the human spirit, which seems to multiply at times in the face of additional barricades.

The Upset Victory are a highly pleasant surprise, taking a Progressive Metal sound and making it lyric and melodic. Frank Hammonds serves the vocal material well, and guitarists Hammond and Stephen Campbell remember that it was like when Rock Guitar reigned supreme. Between The Walls And The Worlds That Sleep is certain to intrigue fans old and new.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about The Upset Victory at www.myspace.com/theupsetvictory or http://www.takeoverdigital.com/. You can order Between The Walls And The Worlds That Sleep on CD from CDBaby.com.

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