By: Edwin Roosjen
est Tube Rhino is a two piece band from Buffalo. Joe Pinnavala is the man with the
most credits namely guitar, guitar synth, bass, drum loops and percussion. Matt
Castronova is strangely only credited for bass guitar on the song Caucasius and for
drum loop idea, whatever that means. This self titled debut album is an instrumental
album with a nice packaging and a fresh sound.
Test Tube Fantasy starts with a catchy drum loop. The opening riff is heavy and the
accompanied synths are scary sounding. The guitar solo is in the style of Satriani
and the sound is pretty good. After a while this drum loop really starts to annoy.
Sadly e.b.e. also has a boring drum loop which in the end puts a shadow over the
very good acoustic guitar solos. And sad but true but Caucasious also has a annoying
drum loop. A freaky bass and some more Satriani like guitar soloing. I can continue
in detail for each song but it all comes down to Satriani like guitar music over a
constant drum loop.
Test Tube Rhino show they got some potential in playing music but this album sounds
like a couple of guys jamming over a drum machine. The drum loops do not alternate,
if so it is negligible. The guitar solos are good, especially the acoustic ones, but
it cannot hide the fact that this is nothing more than a high quality jam recording.
These guys should get a vocalist and start writing some songs, that could result in
some very interesting stuff.
Conclusion: 5 out of 10.
|
Vol. 16, No. 6: Apr.-May 2012
