Review: Throwing Seven - Hope Forgets To Breathe

Throwing Seven - Hope Forgets To Breathe
2010, Planet LA Records

Los Angeles stalwarts Throwing Seven push their melodic power rock to the masses with the release of their debut album, Hope Forgets To Breathe. Regulars in clubs across Southern California, Throwing Seven create a sonically dense three-guitar sound and wrap it around emotionally impactful lyrics. Lead by the monomonous lead singer Jude, Throwing Seven looks to take things to the next level with Hope Forgets To Breathe, after spending the past couple of years playing major festivals including the Vans Warped Tour.

Hope Forgets To Breathe opens with "Push", a stripped down and tightly controlled Modern Rock anthem built around a compact arrangement, rapid-fire drumming and the needful vocals of Jude. "Push" has radio hit stamped all over it; the sort of song that can catch fire at the right time and get a lot of spins quickly. The bass player puts a funk stamp all over Push and carries it over into "Four For Free". "Four For Free" sounds a bit more typical of a modern rock band, but Throwing Seven sticks with the compact style, letting their musicality take precedence over volume or speed. "When The Lights Go Out" finds Throwing Seven retreating into more stereotypical sounds for their genre. The energy and originality of "Push" and, to a lesser degree, "Four For Free" falls by the way side. "Black Maria" restores the energy in a virulently angry track that's worth hearing.

"Saturday Night Soldier" finds Throwing Seven opening up with a more metal-oriented sound without giving up their compact, New Wave sound. The guitar sound is bigger, the drums faster and meaner, but Jude retains his Pop-metal credentials on a serious face-melting tune. "Let It Bleed" finds Throwing Seven amping up the energy in a serious guitar rock anthem worth paying attention to. Throwing Seven turns down the amps on the opening of "Lotus", building through the first verse into a full-bore rocker full of layered guitar and a highly variable rhythm section.

Throwing Seven creates exciting Rock N Roll on the surprising Hope Forgets To Breathe, building in enough rock credentials to survive in a market like LA but with enough musical heart to export their sound outside The City of Angels. Throwing Seven isn't the sort of album that truly breaks a band; it's more the one before that sets the band up to the breaking point. What Throwing Sevens do next is ultimately up to their creative process.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Throwing Seven at www.myspace.com/throwingseven or http://www.throwingseven.com/. You can download Hope Forgets To Breathe through iTunes. Hard copy CDs are available directly from the band at live shows. If you can't make it to a show but want the CD, message the band through MySpace. I'm sure they'll be happy to help you out.

Review: Mile Marker Zero - Mile Marker Zero

Mile Marker Zero - Mile Marker Zero
2009, Mile Marker Zero

New Haven, Connecticut's Mile Marker Zero have been building to this moment since they formed in 2003. June 16, 2009 saw the release of a CD also entitled Mile Marker Zero. It's a mix of favorite tracks from their first 3 releases as well as newly written material. The new CD finds Mile Marker Zero riding a crest of creative depth and popularity that has been a slow-but-steady build over the last six years. Mile Marker Zero trolls the depths of Progressive Rock and Metal; everything from Rush and Dream Theater to Tool, Metallica and even Porcupine Tree. Vocalist Dave Alley is the ideal hard rock front man, able to shred the vocals when appropriate and sing almost lyrically at the other end of the spectrum. This is the album the makes Mile Marker Zero a name you'll remember.

Mile Marker Zero opens with the heavy, rhythmic guitar riff that announces A Thousand Nights. The song is constructed of free-wheeling verses that explode into a soaring chorus full of layered guitars and strong harmonies. Guitarist John Tuohy gives this song its heavy edge, while keyboardist Mark Focarile provides a swirling steadiness that holds the song on check. The rhythm section of Tim Rykoski (bass) and Doug Alley (drums) provides a solid and energetic base for the rest of the band to play off, both here and throughout the album. Laceration recalls some of the heavier rock that piggy-backed on Seattle's Grunge movement. The bass line to this song is killer, and Alley gives a vocal performance that's dynamic and alive. Alley reminded me a bit of the Tragically Hip's Gordon Downey on A Kiss To Fix. The sound here is a bit darker than on the first two tunes and perhaps a bit less accessible to the casual fan, but it's an intriguing piece of writing.

Passive shows a softer side to the band, a contemplative ballad for the first two minutes that slowly crescendos into a mournful power ballad. Crimson Red finds Mile Marker Zero in full-on Prog mode in the most dynamic song on the CD. The song examines war from a personal perspective, detailing the costs in human terms. The guitar work here in particular is notable, with Tuohy giving a performance that would make Malmsteen blush with pride. Maree is a more traditional power ballad, sure to make it to the mix-tape crowd, whereas In Loving Memory Of... is more of an epic ballad, with the sort of soaring grandeur that you used to find from groups like Styx in their heyday. Peril Aerial is a true epic, coming in at over 10 minutes and featuring some of the most inventive Prog work this side of King Crimson. Reaping Ride throws all caution to the wind; the guitar opening has the melodic metal sound practically patented by James "JY" Young of Styx but in a heavier setting than that band usually managed. The song itself is urgently driven in content but plays on the edge between classic and modern rock. Musically this is the most fun composition on the disc. Mile Marker Zero closes out with Hush, an acoustic composition that's quite beautiful and quite out of character with the rest of the album sonically. What is not out of character is the compositional depth, drawing on classical themes to construct a composition that could be played as easily in a concert hall as in a stadium. Hush is a true gift to fans, letting them see the depth of the talent Mile Marker Zero possesses both individually and as a group.

This sort of Prog Rock isn't going to find a lot of room on the radio dial, but there's a very hungry community of fans out there who love it, and if you're part of that community, then Mile Marker Zero is just what you've been waiting for. Fire up that CD, Maestro, I want to listen again.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Mile Marker Zero at www.myspace.com/mmz or http://www.milemarkerzero.com where you can purchase a copy of Mile Marker Zero.

Wildy's World Artist of The Month, July 2009 - Mile Marker Zero

Mile Marker Zero – Wildy’s World Artist Of The Month for July, 2009

Mile Marker Zero might just be the most exciting band to come out of the I-95 corridor in recent memory. The New Haven, Connecticut quintet has been together since 2003, when several band members were enrolled in Western Connecticut University’s school of music. Mile Marker Zero’s brand of Progressive Hard Rock wins them fans every time they step on stage, and the word of mouth buzz has spread quickly in the Northeast United States. The band has already gained enough respect to be offered opening spots for artists such as Spocks Beard, Porcupine Tree and Geoff Tate (Queensryche). With the release of Mile Marker Zero, their fourth album, the band looks to take a big leap onto the national stage.

Vocalist Dave Alley has the sort of charisma and voice that make him a big-time rock front man, and guitarist John Tuohy has guitar chops that would make Wayne and Garth spout their class “We’re not worthy” refrain. The rhythm section of Doug Alley and Tim Rykoski bring vibrant life to the music of Mile Marker Zero, and keyboard master Mark Focarile always seems to provide the perfect fills and atmosphere to flesh out the band’s guitar-driven opera. Mile Marker Zero makes a distinct impression on CD, but it’s the stage where their music has its fullest effect, and word of mouth about live shows has been vibrant.

Take some time to check out Mile Marker Zero, including our review of Mile Marker Zero, their eponymous fourth album. And be sure to visit http://www.milemarkerzero.com/ and www.myspace.com/mmz to learn more about a band determined to carry all things Prog into the next generation.