Son of Eric Epiphany
by Leyla Hamedi
Staff Writer
If Sammy Hagar put down the tequila long enough to record an album (that’s not about tequila) the result would probably be Son of Eric. Messy classic rock with solos coming out of every orifice and bellowing vocals carry this record from beginning to end.
Starting with the screeching electric guitar intro of, “The Truth” singer and pretty much everything else man Bryan Erickson makes good use of his vibrato, but although it’s impressive how long he can hold the notes, he really doesn’t have to drag out every single word of every verse. He actually listens to this criticism in the second song, “High Plains Drifter,” allowing only the chorus to relish his David Coverdale-like pitches.
It’s obvious the vocals got more attention in the making of this record than really anything else. They are always in the forefront and besides a couple of playing–it-safe solos, there’s nothing intrinsically original or different about the melodies. “Black Rain Falls,” varies it up with a deep, plodding guitar and drum combo rather than the light-hearted, bouncing rock riffs the previous songs boast, but the harmonizing backing vocals paired up with a call-and-response type chorus make it stand apart.
“Blind Man,” slows it down to power ballad level but the vocals, again, do not let up. They soar up and down and even though the beat is slow it’s not sappy at all. It’s got that cliché, lighters-in-the-air melody to it yes, but it’s not sappy. The last song is a slow acoustic number with added piano flourishes that bookend it and decorate it throughout. Erickson’s voice is still miraculously strong and the throaty quality that wasn’t noticeable in previous songs is set off by the stripped down simplicity of “Gone.”
Though the songs get a little repetitive, it’s a good album if you want something a little more than background music.
Official Site: MySpace and Official
Band Members:
Bryan Erickson – Vocals, Guitars, Keyboard
Mike Jesmer – Bass
Mark Jesmer – Drums
Track Listing:
The Truth
High Plains Drifter
Black Rain Falls
Born
Fierce
Blind Man
Good Bad Ugly
Lost & Never Found
Gone
Hardrock Haven Rating: 7/10