NitroVille | Can’t Stop What’s Comin’
by Alissa Ordabai
Staff Writer —
It’s the ballsy, raunchy riffs that make the biggest impact on this band’s debut release, and when guitarist Kurt Michael Boeck gets it right, the songs flow with seamless, convincing swagger of a vintage blues-rock steamroller. Tola Lamont’s rough-hewn vocals answer the guitar’s challenge with robust, punk-inspired conviction, and at their best bring to mind the aplomb and the insolence of Mariska Veres and Debbie Harry.
Not striving for originality, but aiming to make sure that the blues-rock tradition survives into the future, the band puts the emphasis on riffs, grooves, and balls-to-the-wall singing – the bare essentials of the genre, at the same time deliberately eschewing any solo guitar extrapolations.
The band’s brand of retro rock is instantly recognizable, enjoyable, and their delivery – winningly sincere. Behind the gritty riffs and earth-bound grooves there is also a darker, slightly disquieting streak striving to give extra depth to the conventional format, such as on standout “Cuts to the Bone” – a hypnotic cut where angst-ridden lyrics are contrasted by the eerie, brooding slide guitar.
It is evident, however, that the band has rushed this release. And it is not just the demo quality of production which betrays the fact, but also the number of fillers which amount to a half of the album. The band – sadly – seems to run out of steam after the first five or so songs, the rest being filled by blatant undercooked demos – songs that are unfinished, at times chaotic and at other times stooping to staple riffs to carry them through.
The genre the band is engaging in has always demanded more of its artists – impeccable form being a must (and something they have proven they can deliver given enough time), as well as a need to give the songs at least one more dimension apart from the groove, the riffs and the vocal melody. This is precisely what the instrumental solos are for – and in how this otherwise promising band will go about filling this void will ultimately determine how they fare on the scene whose patrons are notorious lead guitar fanatics.
The band:
Tola Lamont – vocals
Kurt Michael Boeck – guitars
Fussi Andersen – bass
Cyro Zuzi –drums
Track Listing:
1. Cheating the Hangman
2. Let It Roll
3. Mississippi Wide Boy
4. Dust Devil
5. Cuts to the Bone
6. Twist in the Chain
7. Tell It Like It Is
8. Killing Kind
9. Bad Blood
10. Got What It Takes
11. Coming on Strong
Online: www.nitroville.com
Label: Tijuana Brothers Records
Hardrock Haven rating: 6/10