• New Music Reviews
• |
• Archives
• |
• News
• |
• Submissions
• |
• About
• |
• 
• |
• 

May 2024

• Demon: Invincible
• The Treatment: Wake Up The Neighbourhood
• The Tangent: To Follow Polaris
• Riot V: Mean Streets
• Anette Olzon: Rapture
• FM: Old Habits Die Hard

April 2024

• War Grave: War Grave EP
• Six By Six: Beyond Shadowland
• Vanden Plas: The Empyrean Equation Of The Long Lost Things
• Praying Mantis: Defiance
• King Zebra: Between The Shadows
• About Us: Take A Piece
• Blue Oyster Cult: Ghost Stories

March 2024

• Cruzh: The Jungle Revolution
• Whom Gods Destroy: Insanium
• The Prog Collective: Dark Encounters
• Lords Of Black: Mechanics Of Predacity
• Lipz: Changing The Melody
• The End Machine: The Quantum Phase
• Stargate: Escaping The Illusion
• Turbulence: Binary Dream
• Sonata Arctica: Clear Cold Beyond
• D'Luna: Monster
• Big Big Train: The Likes Of Us
• Benjamin Croft: We Are Here To Help

February 2024

• Traveler: Prequel To Madness
• Lionheart: The Grace Of A Dragonfly
• Honeymoon Suite: Alive
• Durbin: Screaming Steel
• Smoking Snakes: Danger Zone
• Revolution Saints: Against The Winds
• Striker: Ultrapower
• Show N Tell: The Ritual Has Begun
• Robert Hart: Circus Life

[ More Music Reviews ]

LaBrie, James: Static Impulse

Modern Melodic Heavy Metal

3.5/5.0

InsideOut Music
/www.myspace.com/officialjameslabrie
www.jameslabrie.com
By Craig Hartranft,  09.20.2010

This commentary almost did not get written, but it did. James Labrie's (Dream Theater) latest Static Impulse almost got panned, and badly. It seems, as many artists and bands are doing these days, Mr. LaBrie decided to capitulate to modern metal/rock trends by importing hardcore/death vocals into his newest solo project. Honestly, I had to scratch my head (and hold my stomach down) when listening to the first two tracks One More Time and Jekyll or Hyde. Significant growling death vocals erupted in my ears, done by drummer Peter Wildoer (Darkane). LaBrie is one of the very best, most expressive and versatile, rock/metal vocalists in recent years, so I was almost sure it wasn't him doing the death vocals. However, knowing his style I found the inclusion rather odd.

Yet Labrie admits this modern intention saying Static Impulse is "Gothenburg metal with some progressive elements. To me it´s a heavy rock contemporary metal sounding album." You will certainly hear all that on this work. However, Labrie is about 15 years late to the whole 'Gothengrowl' thing. The aforementioned songs and also Just Watch Me, while intrinsically well-composed, are poisoned by those grumpy growls, simply because they are so present, and therefore overwhelming. Conversely, on I Need You and Who You Think I Am, the addition is more subtle, as accent and well-worked. (But necessary? I'm doubtful.)

Forgiving the use of the harsh vocals, LaBrie is still in his finest form, and there are some terrific songs on this 'mod' disc. Mislead, Euphoric, Coming Home, and the absolutely delightful I Tried and Coming Home, show Mr. LaBrie's superior and enviable vocal skill. Backed by longtime creative partner and keyboarder Matt Guillory, Static Impulse offers some of LaBrie's best work. If you are willing to both forgive and accept, and the more I listen the more I can, his excursions into modern avenues, then Static Impulse is his most progressive work to date. Recommended.

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

If you are willing to both forgive and accept, and the more I listen the more I can, his excursions into modern motifs by including hardcore/death vocals, then Static Impulse is James LaBrie's most progressive work to date.

Alphabetical Index

Next year, American metal band Riot V, founded by the late guitarist Mark Reale (d. 2012), will celebrate their 50th anniversary in the metal business. Though we haven't had a new studio album from the band ... [ Read More ]