Music Reviews

CD Reviews: Dearly Beloved: They Will Take Up Serpents

 

In some circles of musical culture, there are artists and fans alike who freely spout “rock is dead”.

Thankfully no one has told this to Dearly Beloved.

2010 Tour Dates | Dearly Beloved

This Toronto rock act has taken current rock, given it a loving smack in the face to wake it up, and has brought it back to what it should be. Blending aesthetics of progressive, grunge, a hint of dirty south and any other facet that has broken off from the parent title that is “rock and roll”; this is a band that will have anyone and everyone busting out their best air guitar moves.

At this time I would like to discuss their upcoming EP, They Will Take Up Serpents, a five track power-chord assault that’s simply satisfying from first beat to last. The EP kicks off with the fat bass-driven anthem Move On. the song has strong build and a fluid progression that acts as a very nice appetizer for what the rest of this EP has in store for the listener.

And really it’s just refreshing to hear the bass guitar not only doing something different from the guitar, nevermind it being the lead instrument of the track; it’s a cool sound that’s not taken advantage of enough in today’s rock genre.

The next track, Make it Bleed, will keep your head bobbing with a solid percussive that drives this  track. The track has a very catchy melody and the vocal hook is very slick.

Something you’ll have no doubt noticed by now in this EP is that Dearly Beloved writes their songs very intelligently as far as sonic sense goes. The songs host brilliant dynamics and employ a “less is more” aspect just enough in just the right spots; in an era where most bands pile track upon track of sound at you, it’s really cool to hear a band that can use a little bit of this and that in the right spots instead of bands who ruin their sound by overwhelming the listener sonically.

Next up we have The Ride. Where Make it Bleed had a steady groove, we’re now indulged with a hard and aggressive rock tune. Very quickly though it’s clear this track is more than just a ballsy and aggressive track as it holds very catchy pop-like melodies and hooks that leave you wanting more; plus the palm-muted verses into the loud, ringing power chords really take me back to my highschool days of grunge music. Love it.

When Slow is the New Fast is another simple but very enjoyable track. My best way to describe this track is: listen to this tune and close your eyes, I defy you not to envision Jack White.

The EP closes up with Candy-Coated, another track with a catchy bass and drum combination and a great drive. I’m getting an early Buckcherry vibe out of this track, and that is more than fine by me. The varying drums in this song make it impossible not to bounce along to it; I’m guessing this is their standard “audience rocks out like hell when we play this live” track.

They Will Take Up Serpents is a wicked rock EP. The EP is a clinic on how simplicity can be much more effective than piles and piles of unnecessary layers of instruments; this is one of the most dynamically strong bands I’ve heard in a long, long time. The band is clearly composed of talented musicians, but it’s refreshing to hear that they don’t feel a need to prove it or flaunt it; agreed, the guitar solos are hardly face-melting, but that would actually draw away from the beautiful simplicity of the EP.

They Will Take Up Serpents is like losing your V card to the hottest girl at school: It’s done in about 17 minutes but every second was awesome and you’ll want to tell all your friends about it. So pick it up, it drops April 27, 2010 but is available to pre-order now, so just go do it.

I’m out.

In some circles of musical culture, there are artists and fans alike who freely spout “rock is dead”.

Thankfully no one has told this to Dearly Beloved.

2010 Tour Dates | Dearly Beloved

This Toronto rock act has taken current rock, given it a loving smack in the face to wake it up, and has brought it back to what it should be. Blending aesthetics of progressive, grunge, a hint of dirty south and any other facet that has broken off from the parent title that is “rock and roll”; this is a band that will have anyone and everyone busting out their best air guitar moves.

At this time I would like to discuss their upcoming EP, They Will Take Up Serpents, a five track power-chord assault that’s simply satisfying from first beat to last. The EP kicks off with the fat bass-driven anthem Move On. the song has strong build and a fluid progression that acts as a very nice appetizer for what the rest of this EP has in store for the listener.

And really it’s just refreshing to hear the bass guitar not only doing something different from the guitar, nevermind it being the lead instrument of the track; it’s a cool sound that’s not taken advantage of enough in today’s rock genre.

The next track, Make it Bleed, will keep your head bobbing with a solid percussive that drives this  track. The track has a very catchy melody and the vocal hook is very slick.

Something you’ll have no doubt noticed by now in this EP is that Dearly Beloved writes their songs very intelligently as far as sonic sense goes. The songs host brilliant dynamics and employ a “less is more” aspect just enough in just the right spots; in an era where most bands pile track upon track of sound at you, it’s really cool to hear a band that can use a little bit of this and that in the right spots instead of bands who ruin their sound by overwhelming the listener sonically.

Next up we have The Ride. Where Make it Bleed had a steady groove, we’re now indulged with a hard and aggressive rock tune. Very quickly though it’s clear this track is more than just a ballsy and aggressive track as it holds very catchy pop-like melodies and hooks that leave you wanting more; plus the palm-muted verses into the loud, ringing power chords really take me back to my highschool days of grunge music. Love it.

When Slow is the New Fast is another simple but very enjoyable track. My best way to describe this track is: listen to this tune and close your eyes, I defy you not to envision Jack White.

The EP closes up with Candy-Coated, another track with a catchy bass and drum combination and a great drive. I’m getting an early Buckcherry vibe out of this track, and that is more than fine by me. The varying drums in this song make it impossible not to bounce along to it; I’m guessing this is their standard “audience rocks out like hell when we play this live” track.

They Will Take Up Serpents is a wicked rock EP. The EP is a clinic on how simplicity can be much more effective than piles and piles of unnecessary layers of instruments; this is one of the most dynamically strong bands I’ve heard in a long, long time. The band is clearly composed of talented musicians, but it’s refreshing to hear that they don’t feel a need to prove it or flaunt it; agreed, the guitar solos are hardly face-melting, but that would actually draw away from the beautiful simplicity of the EP.

They Will Take Up Serpents is like losing your V card to the hottest girl at school: It’s done in about 17 minutes but every second was awesome and you’ll want to tell all your friends about it. So pick it up, it drops April 27, 2010 but is available to pre-order now, so just go do it.

I’m out.

In some circles of musical culture, there are artists and fans alike who freely spout “rock is dead”.

Thankfully no one has told this to Dearly Beloved.

2010 Tour Dates | Dearly Beloved

This Toronto rock act has taken current rock, given it a loving smack in the face to wake it up, and has brought it back to what it should be. Blending aesthetics of progressive, grunge, a hint of dirty south and any other facet that has broken off from the parent title that is “rock and roll”; this is a band that will have anyone and everyone busting out their best air guitar moves.

At this time I would like to discuss their upcoming EP, They Will Take Up Serpents, a five track power-chord assault that’s simply satisfying from first beat to last. The EP kicks off with the fat bass-driven anthem Move On. the song has strong build and a fluid progression that acts as a very nice appetizer for what the rest of this EP has in store for the listener.

And really it’s just refreshing to hear the bass guitar not only doing something different from the guitar, nevermind it being the lead instrument of the track; it’s a cool sound that’s not taken advantage of enough in today’s rock genre.

The next track, Make it Bleed, will keep your head bobbing with a solid percussive that drives this track. The track has a very catchy melody and the vocal hook is very slick.

Something you’ll have no doubt noticed by now in this EP is that Dearly Beloved writes their songs very intelligently as far as sonic sense goes. The songs host brilliant dynamics and employ a “less is more” aspect just enough in just the right spots; in an era where most bands pile track upon track of sound at you, it’s really cool to hear a band that can use a little bit of this and that in the right spots instead of bands who ruin their sound by overwhelming the listener sonically.

Next up we have The Ride. Where Make it Bleed had a steady groove, we’re now indulged with a hard and aggressive rock tune. Very quickly though it’s clear this track is more than just a ballsy and aggressive track as it holds very catchy pop-like melodies and hooks that leave you wanting more; plus the palm-muted verses into the loud, ringing power chords really take me back to my highschool days of grunge music. Love it.

When Slow is the New Fast is another simple but very enjoyable track. My best way to describe this track is: listen to this tune and close your eyes, I defy you not to envision Jack White.

The EP closes up with Candy-Coated, another track with a catchy bass and drum combination and a great drive. I’m getting an early Buckcherry vibe out of this track, and that is more than fine by me. The varying drums in this song make it impossible not to bounce along to it; I’m guessing this is their standard “audience rocks out like hell when we play this live” track.

They Will Take Up Serpents is a wicked rock EP. The EP is a clinic on how simplicity can be much more effective than piles and piles of unnecessary layers of instruments; this is one of the most dynamically strong bands I’ve heard in a long, long time. The band is clearly composed of talented musicians, but it’s refreshing to hear that they don’t feel a need to prove it or flaunt it; agreed, the guitar solos are hardly face-melting, but that would actually draw away from the beautiful simplicity of the EP.

They Will Take Up Serpents is like losing your V card to the hottest girl at school: It’s done in about 17 minutes but every second was awesome and you’ll want to tell all your friends about it. So pick it up, it drops April 27, 2010 but is available to pre-order now, so just go do it.

I’m out.

In some circles of musical culture, there are artists and fans alike who freely spout “rock is dead”.

Thankfully no one has told this to Dearly Beloved.

2010 Tour Dates | Dearly Beloved

This Toronto rock act has taken current rock, given it a loving smack in the face to wake it up, and has brought it back to what it should be. Blending aesthetics of progressive, grunge, a hint of dirty south and any other facet that has broken off from the parent title that is “rock and roll”; this is a band that will have anyone and everyone busting out their best air guitar moves.

At this time I would like to discuss their upcoming EP, They Will Take Up Serpents, a five track power-chord assault that’s simply satisfying from first beat to last. The EP kicks off with the fat bass-driven anthem Move On. the song has strong build and a fluid progression that acts as a very nice appetizer for what the rest of this EP has in store for the listener.

And really it’s just refreshing to hear the bass guitar not only doing something different from the guitar, nevermind it being the lead instrument of the track; it’s a cool sound that’s not taken advantage of enough in today’s rock genre.

The next track, Make it Bleed, will keep your head bobbing with a solid percussive that drives this  track. The track has a very catchy melody and the vocal hook is very slick.

Something you’ll have no doubt noticed by now in this EP is that Dearly Beloved writes their songs very intelligently as far as sonic sense goes. The songs host brilliant dynamics and employ a “less is more” aspect just enough in just the right spots; in an era where most bands pile track upon track of sound at you, it’s really cool to hear a band that can use a little bit of this and that in the right spots instead of bands who ruin their sound by overwhelming the listener sonically.

Next up we have The Ride. Where Make it Bleed had a steady groove, we’re now indulged with a hard and aggressive rock tune. Very quickly though it’s clear this track is more than just a ballsy and aggressive track as it holds very catchy pop-like melodies and hooks that leave you wanting more; plus the palm-muted verses into the loud, ringing power chords really take me back to my highschool days of grunge music. Love it.

When Slow is the New Fast is another simple but very enjoyable track. My best way to describe this track is: listen to this tune and close your eyes, I defy you not to envision Jack White.

The EP closes up with Candy-Coated, another track with a catchy bass and drum combination and a great drive. I’m getting an early Buckcherry vibe out of this track, and that is more than fine by me. The varying drums in this song make it impossible not to bounce along to it; I’m guessing this is their standard “audience rocks out like hell when we play this live” track.

They Will Take Up Serpents is a wicked rock EP. The EP is a clinic on how simplicity can be much more effective than piles and piles of unnecessary layers of instruments; this is one of the most dynamically strong bands I’ve heard in a long, long time. The band is clearly composed of talented musicians, but it’s refreshing to hear that they don’t feel a need to prove it or flaunt it; agreed, the guitar solos are hardly face-melting, but that would actually draw away from the beautiful simplicity of the EP.

They Will Take Up Serpents is like losing your V card to the hottest girl at school: It’s done in about 17 minutes but every second was awesome and you’ll want to tell all your friends about it. So pick it up, it drops April 27, 2010 but is available to pre-order now, so just go do it.

I’m out.