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

April 2024

• 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

January 2024

• Corvus: Immortals
• Caligula's Horse: Charcoal Grace
• Grand: Second To None
• Neal Morse: The Restoration - Joseph - Part Two
• The Rods: Rattle The Cage
• Gotus: Gotus
• Metalite: Expedition One
• Cobrakill: Serpent's Kiss
• Jack Russell & Tracii Guns: Medusa
• Jim Peterik & World Stage: Roots & Shoots Vol. 1
• The Grandmaster: Black Sun

[ More Music Reviews ]

The Last Act: Still Standing

Heavy Rock/Metal

3.0/5.0

Angry Bunny Records
Website Facebook Twitter MySpace
by Craig Hartranft,  04.04.2011

I've been listening to heavy metal for the last 30 or more years. I haven't heard every manifestation of the genre, but I've come close. Yet Canada's The Last Act and their second work Still Standing left me scratching my head and, no matter how times I've played it, hitting the 'skip' button quickly to get through disc. I found Still Standing as difficult to explain as to enjoy, a troubling conundrum.

First, and positively, their sound is probably best described as heavy rock or metal, melodic and bit old school. You might hear elements of Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Soundgarden, Metallica or Megadeth, and even old Rush. Second, the band does not lack for skill, both in songwriting (lyrically) and musicianship. Some the best work comes from bassist Paul Larsen and drummer Andrew Whiting.

But then I play Still Standing. I barely make it through the opening cut, the title track. I hear Jason Turnbull's vocals and cringe; I'm not sure this guy can sing. No Chance ... Again does not prove any better. My hopes are fading fast. Later, the vocals get a bit better on Twilight Radio Waves, but Turnbull is still a challenge. He's better the less he attempts to stretch and strain.

Nevertheless, from one song to the next I'm stabbing that 'skip' button, even though I'm making every effort to listen to more than a minute of any song. Particularly troubling is the thickness of the arrangements. While attempting to be more technical (I think), songs like Still Standing, Problem with Authority, or No Chance ... Again, by example, simply sound busy. With little doubt, every song has moments of interest, some moments longer than others like the content of Habitat for Insanity. Perhaps the best songs are the fiery instrumental Burning Stack. Yet, in the final analysis I'm more than a little ambivalent about The Last Act and their sophomore effort Still Standing.

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

I found The Las Act's Still Standing as difficult to explain as to enjoy, a troubling conundrum. No matter how times I played it, I found myself hitting the 'skip' button to get through it.

Alphabetical Index

Three years have passed since Sweden's Cruzh dropped their second long-player, Tropical Thunder, also introducing their new singer, Alex Waghorn. Now the band returns with The Jungle Revolution ... [ Read More ]