irst thing I noticed out of the gate with drummer Bobby Rock's latest
release Out of Body was that this guy is totally BUFF! Everything
from CD cover to CD insert to web page to press release features Rock's Hulk
Hogan-esque pythons, and to be honest if I had biceps like this brother I'd
show 'em off all the time, too! How does this all fit into a music review?
Well, I'll tell you how. I only needed to listen to a few tracks to
determine why this man could have a day job as a double for Schwartzenegger,
and that's because Rock really gets a good work out BASHING THE LIVING HELL
out of his drum kit! And I mean that in a totally good way - this guy
really knows his way around his Peavey drum kit, and his work on the album
alone is almost worth the price of admission. But, surprisingly enough, not
only is B. Rock capable of carrying a group on his back, he's also capable
of holding back and letting the other boys in the band have some fun too.
And let it be known that the "boys" Rock selected to play with him on Out
of Body are formidable indeed.
For example, let's talk about bassist Carl "The Fox" Carter. One listen to
this release, and you will have no doubt in your mind that Carter is in
COMPLETE control over the low-end of the CD. Much like the legendary Chris
Squire, Carter's slap-happy lightning-fast bass riffs both contribute to the
rhythm section AND encroach upon featured instrument territory. Take a good
listen to Carter's work on "Harnozowa" and "Liquid" and you'll see what I
mean. Carter is also quite capable of taking a ride on some of guitarist
Brett Garsed's (more on him later) light-speed solos, creating some double
solos that'll knock your sonic socks off.
Bobby himself lays pretty low during most of the CD, seemingly content to
grind out his drum kit's funky grooves as a backdrop to Carter and Garsed's
"riffage". It is a testament to Rock's musical sense and humility that he
shows so much restraint on an album that has his name on it; on Out of
Body Rock consistently does what's best for the BAND, and not
necessarily what'll get him the most "show-off" points that so many
prog/metal musicians seem to be preoccupied with. That's not to say that
Rock doesn't get his chops in either, Rock flails away with reckless abandon
on a couple of sub-minute drum solos titled "A Meditation" and "A Meditation
(Solo Reprise)". Rock also shows some nice skills in the drum-lead
"Tunnels, Part 1" and "Tunnels, Part 2". But, for the most part, Rock plays
the role of "drummer" and not "prima donna" - and that's good for the
release as a whole.
However, despite Carter and Rock's incredibly playing on Out of Body,
the REAL star of the show is Australian born guitarist Brett Garsed.
Reminiscent of a cross between Nuno Bettencourt (the incredible ex-guitarist
of Extreme) and Steve Vai, Garsed's fingers fly all over the fretboard
creating mind-blowing solos filled with string bending, harmonics, feedback,
and other guitar tricks reserved for only a special handful of guitarists.
Brett especially hits the mark on the metal-remake of Yes' classic
"Roundabout", laying down an unexpected killer solo during the bridge
section that would probably make Steve Howe turn to drink. While other
guitarists can perhaps play faster than Garsed, I haven't heard many that
can play with both his speed AND his emotion; this lad from down under takes
the best of both worlds and combines them into guitar playing that must be
heard by any serious guitar fan.
So, Out of Body is definitely an entertaining and engaging trip
through metal/fusion land - musicians who like serious shredding should
DEFINITELY look into this release. Were there any gaffes on Out of
Body? Sure. I could've done without the remakes of Aerosmith's "Walk
This Way" and "Frankenstein", but other than that there really aren't that
many dull moments to be found. If you're at all interested in checking out
some Grade A musicians just flat out JAMMIN', then Bobby Rock's Out of
Body is your ticket.
irst thing I noticed out of the gate with drummer Bobby Rock's latest
release Out of Body was that this guy is totally BUFF! Everything
from CD cover to CD insert to web page to press release features Rock's Hulk
Hogan-esque pythons, and to be honest if I had biceps like this brother I'd
show 'em off all the time, too! How does this all fit into a music review?
Well, I'll tell you how. I only needed to listen to a few tracks to
determine why this man could have a day job as a double for Schwartzenegger,
and that's because Rock really gets a good work out BASHING THE LIVING HELL
out of his drum kit! And I mean that in a totally good way - this guy
really knows his way around his Peavey drum kit, and his work on the album
alone is almost worth the price of admission. But, surprisingly enough, not
only is B. Rock capable of carrying a group on his back, he's also capable
of holding back and letting the other boys in the band have some fun too.
And let it be known that the "boys" Rock selected to play with him on Out
of Body are formidable indeed.