3 | The Ghost You Gave To Me

by Joe Mis
Staff Writer —

Woodstock means many things to many people: psychedelic rock, outdoor concerts, funny smelling smoke, hippies, Viet Nam, peace – but for the guys of the progressive rock band 3 it simply means home. Rising above all of the Woodstock images and influences, 3 has carved out a unique niche in the progressive rock arena, and were progressive before progressive was cool. Blending fluid acoustic guitars with equally fluid vocals and harmonies, and backing it up with intense bass, dynamic drums and slick metal guitars, 3 has continued to blaze its own path with their latest release, The Ghost You Gave To Me.

3 got their start in Woodstock in the late 1990s, releasing their first album, Paint By Number, in 1998. They followed up with Summercamp Nightmare and a tour with Coheed & Cambria in 2003. In 2005 they released Wake Pig, which earned them a deal with Metal Blade and a tour with Porcupine Tree in anticipation of their next release entitled The End Is Begun (2007). In 2008 they were the opening act for the U.S. leg of the Scorpions world tour, earning a large fan following as a result and a spot in Dream Theater’s Progressive Nation Tour. They released a retrospective album, Revisions, in 2009 and now The Ghost You Gave To Me in October 2011.

3 is fronted by the voice and guitar of Joey Eppard. He primarily plays the acoustic guitar on stage using a very unique and different rapid-fire finger-picking style to provide the overall direction for the band. To truly appreciate his immense talent, head over to YouTube and search for “joey Eppard Bramfatura” and check out some of the fan videos of his instrumental work. Eppard is also blessed with a fine voice and excellent songwriting abilities. He can sing softly (dare one say even “liltingly”) and then drop to a menacing growl or high intensity grit. 3 is far from a one man show though. Eppard is backed by the spectacular drumming of the well-respected Chris Gartmann. “Gartdrumm” manages to somehow be subtle and explosive at the same time, and works well with bassist Daniel Grimsland. Grimsland can gallop along like a freight train or riff out complex bluesy bass lines. Billy Riker ably completes the quartet on guitars and electronic effects and handles rhythm and lead with a smooth and solid hand. 3 is a veteran act, and the band is as musically tight and they play together with solid teamwork.

The album opens with the mostly acoustic “Sirenum Scopuli,” a track filled with nice guitar stylings and Eppard’s recognizable voice, and translates immediately into the somewhat pop-rock “React.” Nice vocals, trademark acoustic work and a great chorus make this song very easily recognizable as 3. “Sparrow” has a nice gritty opening riff and some fine vocal performances, although it also has a bit of a pop-punk rock feel. “High Times” has a light, floating lyric line over a great acoustic guitar line and a powerful bass and drum attack. The tone and mood both darken a bit for the intense rhythm-driven “Numbers,” a heavy song with some thick, almost black, metal riffs at the mid-point. The band does an immediate about face by laying out some delicate vocal melodies and light acoustics on “One With the Sun,” although on later listens it becomes apparent that the bass and drums are the true backbone of this track.

Intense metal guitars, a great lead break and biting lyrics highlight the “The Ghost You Gave to Me,” while a complex rhythm line and great, almost dance-able chorus make “Pretty” an interesting track. “Afterglow” has some impressive hooks, fantastic drumming and a catchy, upbeat chorus. “Its Alive” is a true progressive metal track, displaying all of the progressive trademarks and a great metal scream chorus. Every musician contributes some amazingly delicate instrumental work on this track. Slick bass and drums make “Only Child” a solid piece of prog ear candy, while “The Barrier” closes the album with a simple soft rock tune.

Overall The Ghost You Gave To Me is a fine addition to 3’s decade-plus discography. Tracks built around strong vocal melodies and harmonies layered over subtle complex instruments are the band’s bread and butter, and the deliver well on Ghost, The variety of styles ranging from full metal to almost techno-pop only serve to illustrate the depth of talent. While not as intense or heavy as their prior release, Ghost is full of the special touches and flairs that make 3 a true musical experience. Strong lyrics filled with vivid imagery and rich emotion, flowing melody lines and intense rhythms led by Eppard’s uniquely fluid voice and phenomenal acoustic guitar will surely cement 3 into the pantheon of progressive rock greatness.

Finally – a band that doesn’t sound like any other! Not too heavy and not too light, 3 seems to have hit the nail right on the head once again. The Ghost You Gave To Me is technical and complex, yet warmly emotional and easily accessible to any listener. Very highly recommended!

Genre: Progressive Rock

Band:
Joey Eppard (Vocals, Guitar)
Chris “Gartdrumm” Gartmann (Drums, Vocals)
Billy Riker (Guitars, Effects)
Daniel Grimsland (Bass)

Track Listing:
1. Sirenum Scopuli
2. React
3. Sparrow
4. High Times
5. Numbers
6. One With the Sun
7. The Ghost You Gave to Me
8. Pretty
9. Afterglow
10. Its Alive
11. Only Child
12. The Barrier

Label: Metal Blade Records

Website: http://theband3.com/

Hardrock Haven rating: 9/10