{"id":24350,"date":"2012-12-10T09:57:38","date_gmt":"2012-12-10T14:57:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/?p=24350"},"modified":"2013-02-05T16:45:56","modified_gmt":"2013-02-05T21:45:56","slug":"intuition-a-season-to-rock-cd-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/2012\/intuition-a-season-to-rock-cd-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Intuition | A Season To Rock<\/em>"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Joe Mis<\/span>
\n– Senior Columnist —<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"IntuitionLooking for a rocking way to celebrate the season? Look no further than the instrumental release by Intuition entitled A Season To Rock<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Intuition is a group of musicians fronted by well-respected guitarist Mike Bidwell and standout drummer Gaetano Nicolosi (both members of southern rock\/metal’s Iron Horse). They got together and decided to release a collection of traditional Christmas songs without doing simple \u201ccover\u201d type tunes. They enhanced some intros, added longer solo sections and mixed in interesting arrangements while keeping the tone \u201cmetal.\u201d Intuition is rounded out by amazing bassist Dino Fiorenza, guitarist Chris Bickley, and keyboard player Luccio Nicolosi. The listener will pick up many elements of progressive metal, pure heavy metal, electronica, old school hard rock, and a touch of the blues. The band has eschewed the often \u201cover-the-top\u201d orchestrations of groups like the Trans-Siberian Orchestra in favor of a simpler, more direct and accessible sound.<\/p>\n

The album opens with a spirited, bass-driven rendition of \u201cAngels We Have Heard On High\u201d which features some truly incredible guitar work. The very progressive and unusual arrangement and tempo changes of \u201cWe Three Kings\u201d follows before the band drops to a more traditional and soft rock delivery of \u201cSilent Night.\u201d \u201cThe First Noel\u201d is a nice upbeat rocker with a driving rhythm line from guitars, bass and drums, and mixes in some nifty (almost Hammond organ style) during the extended solo \u2013 making this the strongest song on the CD. Intuition’s version of \u201cThe Carol Of The Bells\u201d is driven by drums and bass, but the keyboards are the star. While it does not have the powerful orchestration of the familiar TSO version, Intuition’s take is much more original thanks to their extended solo sections and unique arrangement.<\/p>\n

Beautifully done keys open \u201cOh Come, All Ye Faithful,\u201d and then the track becomes a simple and effective up-tempo rocker built around drums and bass. This track also boasts some well-done prog-keyboards in the extended solo. \u201cDeck The Halls\u201d is the guitar showpiece with Bickley and Bidwell at their best. \u201cGod Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen\u201d features some heavily distorted guitars, wild keyboards, and almost manic tempo changes. It is one of the few times that Intuition seems to have become a bit too ambitious with their performance, although some fine keys and guitars in the softer passages save this track. \u201cDance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy\u201d features some a truly amazing bass work that adds a touch of the blues to the CD, and then some true grinding metal guitars and dissonant keys take the song into a different dimension.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoy To The World\u201d opens with a unique piano intro before the rest of the band adds a progressive rock spin to it with contrasting rhythms and a bit of electronica and a truly soaring guitar solo. \u201cO Holy Night\u201d is probably the closest in tone to the original \u2013 and the simple synths and strong bass work wonderfully and build towards a memorable guitar break. A hard-rocking version of \u201cAuld Lang Syne\u201d brings the album to an apt, guitar-driven conclusion.<\/p>\n

A Season To Rock<\/em> is a great holiday album, and a very good album overall. Christmas classics, both religious and secular, are handled with grace and a unique charm. These well-known melodies are presented in a different light thanks to the to the addition of the band’s original material and creative arrangements. The album is flawless technically with each musician obviously at the top of his game, and the creative modifications of these long-honored classics only enhance their timelessness.<\/p>\n

Intuition has managed to capture the true spirit of Christmas, and delivers the music of the season with the passion, emotion, and most importantly the respect that these classic tunes deserve. Highly recommended!<\/p>\n

Genre: Progressive (Holiday) Metal<\/p>\n

Band:
\nGaetano Nicolosi (drums and percussion)
\nDino Fiorenza (bass)
\nMike Bidwell (lead and rhythm guitar)
\nChris Bickley (lead guitar)
\nLuccio Nicolosi (keyboards)<\/p>\n

Track Listing:
\n1.\tAngels We Have Heard On High
\n2.\tWe Three Kings
\n3.\tSilent Night
\n4.\tThe First Noel
\n5.\tCarol Of The Bells
\n6.\tO Come, All Ye Faithful
\n7.\tDeck The Halls
\n8.\tGod Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
\n9.\tDance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy
\n10.\tJoy To The World
\n11.\tO Holy Night
\n12.\tAuld Lang Syne<\/p>\n

Label: Tanus Records<\/p>\n

Website: http:\/\/www.gaetanonicolosi.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Hardrock Haven rating: 9\/10<\/p>\n