by James West
– Columnist —
Coming in hot from Orange County is RadioDrone, a band that features heavy instrumentals and melodic vocals packed behind sound bites of famous political speeches on government and humanity.
Political or humanity is up to you to decide what each song means as their 21-track album, The Truth Syndicate Diaries, packs a punch and brings a reminder of that old school Grunge and Nu Metal sound that made the early 2000s bliss for music lovers.
While a majority of the tracks on this album are sound bites, the songs themselves stand out in a great light as something to ponder over and the message underneath can pretty cater to whatever matters most to you, the listener.
“Game Change” – A haunting and pleasant reminder of old school riffs with modernized lyrics and production techniques. The overall sound is a massive one on what is the lead single for the band. Definitely one of the must listen to tracks on this album.
The songs’ lyrical content ventures on the side of someone taking a step outside of the box and considering the bigger picture of a matter that affects the world. Instrumental wise, drums and bass are the driving force to this song pounding the message in even more so.
“Massive” is simply one of the most down to earth in atmosphere tracks on this album. Bringing a southern flare to the California landscape, RadioDrone has created one true balled in this song and giving it such a name as this is fitting.
The lyrical content is more of a state of reflection in ourselves and our beliefs. Maybe it’s a reminder of better times or the endurance taken from the madness that comes from life’s worst situations? Either way it can easily be an anthem to those who are still surviving the struggle of this world.
“NeverLoution” – another call to the sound of the Nu Metal era, “NeverLoution” is a song that speaks to the down trodden man who is ostracized in his homeland. Easiest thing to say about this track is it will get audiences moving and motivated by the message to take charge in life.
With the vocals being one of the more shining examples of great band unity along with an epic breakdowns, RadioDrone is on a warpath to everyone’s ears with a fun and upbeat sound to lyrics that influence change.
“Want It Back” has an official music video that gives off vibes of weird and methodical, and “Want It Back” is a fun track that brings back memories of bands such as the Union Underground and No One as the guitars will resonate most with you. Lyrically, it follows the stance of taking control of what was lost and gaining a foothold against someone or something that proves to be an obstacle. The most enjoyable thing about this song is how from verse to chorus, nothing is lacking or slowing down. This creates a true constant and solid foundation for the band to present themselves to listeners everywhere.
End of review notes: What really sparks interest in The Truth Syndicate Diaries is the onslaught of powerful statements made in the songs and not so much on the sound bites of famous speeches given. The overall effect on this album is that these men have created a band to voice their cries of frustration with infrastructure and humanity.
The silver lining or flipside of the coin is, the beauty found in negative spaces can motivate each and every one of us to incite our own change and take something positive from these songs. Being all about a message like that will motivate anyone to dig into this album.
Pick it up; you will find a song that focuses on you or what is important to you. Old school style with that flare of personal attachment and message of inciting change makes for a truly special music experience.
Genre: Hard Rock
Band Members:
Ethan Hedayat – Vocals/Guitar
Randy Cash – Guitar/Vocals
Stephen Appel – Bass/Vocals
Danny Molgaard – Drums
Track Listing:
1. Game Change
2. Want it Back
3. NeverLoution
4. Get Your Head Down
5. Showdown
6. Massive
7. Battle Call
8. We’re Alright
9. Double Think
10. Don’t Get Me Started
Label: Indie
Web: http://www.radiodronemusic.com/
Hardrock Haven rating: 8/10
