{"id":44523,"date":"2014-09-03T06:19:56","date_gmt":"2014-09-03T11:19:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/?p=44523"},"modified":"2014-09-03T06:19:56","modified_gmt":"2014-09-03T11:19:56","slug":"california-breed-cd-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hardrockhaven.net\/online\/2014\/california-breed-cd-review\/","title":{"rendered":"California Breed | California Breed<\/em>"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Alexandra Mrozowska<\/span>
\n– Senior Columnist —<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"CaliforniaAfter the days under the moniker of Black Country Communion, a supergroup that created an enormous buzz among the rock fans all around the globe, there comes a time to introduce another brainchild of Glenn Hughes and Jason Bonham. With the addition of the guitarist\/vocalist Andrew Watt, the two legendary musicians formed California Breed. Their self-titled album is now out and metaphorically faced with a big challenge to fill another important position in its creators\u2019 rich and versatile discographies.<\/p>\n

The first track \u2013 \u201cThe Way\u201d \u2013 assaults the listener with a groovy, rough riff accompanied by Glenn Hughes\u2019 trademark high-pitched vocals. This slightly Zeppelin-esque, \u201870s hard rock convention \u2013 enhanced by the 21st century production \u2013 continues with its follow-up \u201cSweet Tea.\u201d The second track reaches back even further into the history of rock, as its simple, groovy, \u201860s garage rock-infused guitar riff gravitates towards the sound of the bands such as the early Stones or the Kinks. <\/p>\n

Next are significantly slower \u201cChemical Rain,\u201d a modern-day take on psychedelic rock, and another solid portion of rough, rhythmical riffs against the wall of Hughes\u2019 and the background singer Kristen Rogers\u2019 expressive vocal duo \u2013 \u201cMidnight Oil.\u201d The latter finishes with a furious guitar gallop, a real showcase of Watt\u2019s instrumental talent, with Bonham adding a bit of its signature drum pounding, too. <\/p>\n

\u201cAll Falls Down\u201d starts out subtle to develop into a powerful, blues-infused ballad, led by the emotionally laden, soaring choruses and the wailing guitar solo. \u201cThe Grey\u201d and \u201cDays They Come\u201d mark a return to the gritty and rough riffs and more nonchalant, feisty manner of singing, with the echoes of \u201860s rock somewhere in the background again. \u201cSpit It Out\u201d is the Stones\u2019 signature sound revisited, its strong and well-crafted chorus being one of the highlights of the entire material, followed by the contemporary blues piece \u201cStrong.\u201d
\nGloomy, ominous \u201cInvisible\u201d, led by the prolonged, thrumming riffs in a doom Sabbath-esque convention, precedes the funky, groovy \u201cScars.\u201d The last track is \u201cBreathe,\u201d with its acoustic-driven beginning and rapid changes of pace further on<\/p>\n

The self-titled debut album of California Breed is something the fans of Glenn Hughes and Jason Bonham will go for anyway, as it\u2019s a valuable addition to the collection of their heroes\u2019 past and present endeavors. But, star-studded line-up aside, the album\u2019s variety and uniqueness of sound are its undeniable assets anyway \u2013 even for the listeners not familiar with the respective musicians\u2019 r\u00e9sum\u00e9s (are there any?). California Breed combines the raw, simple sounds of the \u201860s and the \u201870s with the contemporary rock into an interesting and vivid fusion of genres and sounds. A bit unconventional, perhaps a little unpolished and rather not to be dubbed \u2018radio-friendly\u2019, the album skillfully balances between the past and the present. If you\u2019re into looking onto the \u201860s and \u201870s classic rock patterns through the modern-day lens, accompanied by the expected solid performance from the living icons of the genre, you\u2019re going to love this one.<\/p>\n

Genre: Hard Rock, Classic Rock<\/p>\n

Band:
\nGlenn Hughes: vocals, bass guitar
\nJason Bonham: drums
\nAndrew Watt: Guitar<\/p>\n

Additional musicians:
\nDave Cobb \u2013 production, percussion
\nMike Webb \u2013 keyboards
\nKristen Rogers \u2013 backing vocals
\nJulian Lennon \u2013 additional vocals on “Breathe”<\/p>\n

Track List:
\n1. The Way
\n2. Sweet Tea
\n3. Chemical Rain
\n4. Midnight Oil
\n5. All Falls Down
\n6. The Grey
\n7. Days They Come
\n8. Spit You Out
\n9. Strong
\n10. Invisible
\n11. Scars
\n12. Breathe<\/p>\n

Label: Frontiers Records<\/p>\n

Website:
\nwww.californiabreed.com\/<\/a>
\nhttps:\/\/www.facebook.com\/CaliforniaBreed<\/a><\/p>\n

Hardrock Haven rating: 7\/10<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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