Chasing Karma | Cosmocracy
by Derric Miller
Staff Writer
Bands need to set their sights high in today’s economy, and what’s higher than “the rule of the whole world?” That’s right … the new band Chasing Karma has titled their debut Cosmocracy … the rule of the whole world. OK, maybe the band is not implying that THEY shall rule the earth and it’s more of a political recognition on the (radical) ideology some citizens truly believe … that the entire world is going to be run by the United Nations or another multi-national entity. You could also maybe just figure out that “Cosmocracy” is just a really cool name for a debut release of a new band. In the end, it’s all about the music though.
You may remember the gents in Chasing Karma from a prior incarnation, Biloxi, who made some “waves” for their release In the Wake of the Storm. Led by singer/songwriter/guitarist Mark Lanoue, the band has veered from their AOR leanings of the past and has created a new sound that is heavier, more modern, and looks to the future instead of living in the past. If you can get better advice than that, you don’t understand what the term “good advice” means. That is the running narrative throughout Cosmocracy, a positive, uplifting sonic journey filled with encouraging lyrics like taking your destiny in your hands, living your dreams, forgetting about the pain of the past, etc. Couple that with a heavy yet melodic sound, and Chasing Karma has a lot to offer.
Opening with “Destiny,” you’ll hear immediately that this is not Biloxi. The chugging guitar riff launches into you with measured intensity, and you’ll hear that Lanoue’s vocal abilities continue to expand. The draw of this song is how the band meshes this slamming metal composition with lyrics like “Don’t let anyone deny your dreams, it’s just as easy as it seems.” This means you don’t have to be angry when you bang your head anymore; you may even be allowed to smile when hearing “Destiny.”
After the slightly skip-able “What You See,” one of the best tracks runs into you, “Embrace Tomorrow.” There are actually three guitar players in the band, and no, it’s not Leatherwolf in any way, but the way the guitars play off each other makes for a complicated and awesome arrangement. Lanoue’s vocals soar on the lyrics right before the chorus, expertly angry and passionate as he sings “Come on now embrace tomorrow!” The best lines are probably about how the human condition means a tendency to wallow in psychic self-sorrow, and when Lanoue asks, “Why do we fall and embrace the things that we should let go of,” he damn well means it.
On songs like “Tell Me,” you can hear the band show off a more mid-tempo style; no, every song on Cosmocracy is not unduly heavy. In fact, this is one of those songs about, well, convincing someone to “stay the night” with you. It’s not about one-night stands but more of a search for love, and how that love they can find together can change both lives forever. As stated, Chasing Karma doesn’t have a lot of time for negativity and all of the other self-destructive anomalies humans carry with them.
Just when you think you have Chasing Karma pigeonholed, they come at you with “Say Goodbye.” So maybe “Tell Me” is the precursor to “Say Goodbye,” because in the latter song, doing the “positive” thing means getting the hell away from that person who has defiled or at least sullied your very existence. When Lanoue sings, “When it’s said and done, don’t come crying to me, ‘cuz I’ll be gone,” part of you will be yelling “hell yeah, man!” Another interesting facet to this song is at the end of the first chorus, when Lanoue slows it down and flows into a soft falsetto, it sounds a lot like Dennis DeYoung. And that’s a compliment.
Cosmocracy ends with the most metallic track on the album, “Fight.” This is heavier than you would have believed possible by if you were a fan of Biloxi, and the testosterone rains from every churning riff and gripping chord. It’s really the chorus, though, that cranks it way past eleven, when the gang vocals, shouting out, “You Fight! Fight! Fight for me …” go way beyond aggressive. In short, the song salutes the soldiers who make the ultimate sacrifice for their country, and that’s about as relevant and topical as you can write about today.
Chasing Karma is one of those uber-talented bands who many people may never give a chance. With the glut of bands “producing” music today, and Pro Tools making recording possible for every jerkweed out there who thinks he is a musician and whose only attribute is he pays the electric bill on time, Chasing Karma has it cut out for them. Luckily, you can have your own opinions, but you can’t have your own facts, and Chasing Karma is a damn solid band, rife with songwriting expertise, an overabundance of musical experience and a singer who is a talented vocal technician. They may not ever rule the whole world, but they sure as hell deserve to rule your I-Pod for a very long time …
Track listing:
1. Destiny
2. What You See
3. Embrace Tomorrow
4. Can I See You
5. Tell Me
6. Armed and Ready
7. Your Fallen
8. Don’t You Think
9. Say Goodbye
10. Brand New Start
11. For You
12. What a Shame
13. Dream Tonight
14. Fight for Me
Band:
Mark Lanoue – lead vocals and guitar
Rob Gronkosi – drums and vocals
Lee Cooley – bass and vocals
James Gillies – guitar and vocals
Dave Melton – guitar
Online: www.chasing-karma.com
Genre: Hard Rock/Metal
Hardrock Haven rating: 8.5/10
 |