Crucified Barbara - 'In Distortion We Trust' [enhanced
CD]
Released through Liquor & Poker Records in 2006
THE BAND:
Mia Coldheart - vocals, lead guitar
Nikki Wicked - battery (drums), backing vocals
Klara Force - guitar, backing vocals
Ida Evileye - bass
TRACK FRAGMENTS:
1.) "Play Me Hard (the bachelor's guitar)" - This
opening track is the first of three videos that is on the CD. This song
opens with a pre-verse instead of the standard intro. The opening
pre-verse consisted of a rhythm guitar riff and lead vocal line.
Underneath the opening pre-verse Nikki plays a very simple hi-hat pattern.
This hi-hat pattern is meant to keep Klara & Mia in time. As the pre-verse
progresses Nikki speeds the bpm (beats per minute) of the rhythm section
up. Connecting the pre-verse to the verse arrangement Nikki switches from
the hi-hat count off to a tom-tom pattern. This makes for a very smooth
change within the musical arrangement. There are a few lyrical lines
within the first verse that where done with backing harmonies. The rhythm
guitar arrangement changes several times through out the song. The girls
kept the choruses very short and simple. At times the musical arrangement
has an early L.A. Guns feel to it. Klara overdubbed her guitar solo giving
it a twin lead guitar feel. For the breakdown section after the guitar
solo the bass would have been more effective turned up just a little.
2.) "In Distortion We Trust" - The intro to this track opens with an
older Judas Priest influenced lead guitar riff. About two bars into the
intro the rhythm guitar kicks in. Both the lead and rhythm guitars are
playing two different arrangements. In the way Mankan Sedenberg, who also
produced the CD, mixed the second rhythm guitar track has it coming out of the
right speaker only. Nikki wrote a very cool drum rhythm for the main body
of the intro. Mia does a small vocal scream that connects the main intro
section to the first verse. Too my amazement the girls really break the
song down for the musical verse. The main instrumentation of the verse is
the bass line and drum pattern. Klara pulls way back mainly just chordingg
the rhythm guitar. At times though the chorus there are small hooks
attached to the lyrical lines. There is a small musical rest within the
music after the first chorus. Klara's rhythm guitar riffs of the verses
are the same notes as the lyric lines. The first few bars of the musical
change of the breakdown section was mixed to were the rhythm guitar tracks were
going back and forth between the speakers. Mia's vocal accents over the
top of the breakdown section was done in a modern heavy metal scream.
Because the song goes through so many different musical changes it reminds you a
lot of progressive seventies music.
3.) "Losing The Game" - This track is the second track on the CD that
also has a video. Over the top of this intro section there is a minor lead
guitar solo. The rhythm guitar arrangement and sound of the intro was very
reminiscent of eighties heavy metal. The verses of this song are fairly
straight forward. The vocal arrangement throughout the pre-chorus and
chorus have very nice vocal hooks attached to them. The drum rhythms for
this song are amazing!!! There is a musical change for the breakdown
section. Mia's vocals that are over the top of the breakdown section were
done with a vocal effect. This track has a massive lead guitar solo!!!
4.) "Motherfucker" - This track opens with the sound of a motorcycle
effect before going into the main intro section. The musical intro of this
track consisted of a 1950's lead guitar riff over the top of the arrangement.
The musical arrangement underneath the lyrical lines of the pre-verse is very
influenced by L.A. Guns and the stuff they recorded on their debut. The band
bring the song down a notch or two for the verse. The choruses of the song
were kept fairly simple. After the second verse there is a breakdown
section. Underneath the breakdown section there is a motorcycle effect.
This is just a very simple song that would make a great b-side.
5.) "I Need A Cowboy From Hell" - This track opens with a snare fill
before going into the main intro section. In the fashion Klara arranged
the lead guitar riffs gives them a minor lead guitar solo feel. Nikki
changes the drum rhythm for the musical verse. Nikki's bass foot control
on drum rhythm for this song was utterly amazing. On the fifth lyrical
line of the first verse Nikki changes the drum rhythm giving the musical
arrangement a whole new feel. There is a small rhythm change for the
chorus. The band kept the chorus fairly simple. By far, it is the
drum rhythm & guitar riffs that makes this song.
6.) "My Heart Is Black" - There was a very simple rhythm guitar riff
that opened this track. This rhythm guitar riff is a pre-intro to the main
intro section. Over the top of the main musical intro there is a minor
lead guitar solo. This minor lead guitar solo was done was done with a
wah-wah pedal. Causing the solo to have a very seventies feel. The
band uses the same musical arrangement for the verse as the intro. The
band break the song down for the pre-chorus. Nikki incorporated a cowbell
for the drum pattern of the pre-chorus. The backing harmonies of the
chorus just did not work for this song. The main rhythm guitar riffs have
a very punk influence. Musically and lyrically this song really had
potential. But for one reason or another the lyrical arrangement just did
not work. I think a lot of it had to do with the backing vocals.
7.) "Hide 'Em All" - Underneath the opening lead riff of this intro
there is a very cool bass line and tom-tom rhythm. The main intro section
consisted of two different rhythm guitar arrangements. The rhythm guitar
underneath the vocal lines of the verse has a very mean sound. The
choruses of this song were keep very simple. The lyrical arrangement
really did not cut it for me on this song. With that being said it must
also be noted that the main rhythm guitar riff and lead guitar solo are the best
on this disc so far.
8.) "Going Down" -This track opens with a single rhythm guitar riff
coming out of one speaker. The rhythm guitar arrangement of the main intro
section was very reminiscent of early eighties heavy metal. The lyrics of
the verse flow smoothly over the intense rhythm guitar riffs. Vocally the
chorus sounds like it was sang by a different member of the group. There
is a small musical change after the first chorus. The musical change
consisted of juts guitars and drums. The band drastically slow the song
down for the opening of the lead guitar solo. The song's arrangement has
several unexpected musical changes.
9.) "I Wet Myself" - This track opens with a drum pattern. In a
lot of ways this opening drum pattern reminded me of the drum pattern off of
Montrose's 'Rock Candy", only slower. The rhythm guitar arrangement fades
in which, was pretty cool. The main rhythm guitar riff has a intense feel
to it. The main instrumentation through the verse is drums and bass.
All in all this is just a very simple punk influenced song. The lead
guitar solo was overdubbed to give a twin guitar effect.
10.) "Rock 'n' Roll Bachelor" -This track opens with a Green Green Day
influenced intro section. Over the top of the intro section there is a
minor lead guitar solo. Musically and lyrically the verses were kept very
simple. At times the choruses have an early L.A. Guns feel. This is
a very simple song that rocks.
11.) "Bad Hangover" - This track opens with a vocal accent.
Instead of a intro section the song goes right into the verse. The musical
and lyrical arrangements of the verses are very laid back with a simple feel.
The highlight of the verse is the bass drum foot work. There is a rhythm
guitar change for thee chorus. The vocal lines of the chorus have a small
hook attached to them. When mixing the CD for one reason or another they
turned the main down. This made absolutely no sense! The guitar solo
for this track was very short.
12.) "Killed By Death" - Moterhead cover
videos
1.) "Losing The Game"
2.) "Rock 'n' Roll Bachelor"
3.) "Play Me Hard (the bachelor's guitar)"
When I first put this disc in. I thought man what a
hell of a band this is going to be! The more I played it, the more I
realized something just wasn't right. Then about half way though the CD I
realized what it was. Though the music is great and the lyrics are
awesome, the two do not work together. With that being said, it must also
be noted that there are flashes of brilliants, just not enough to keep me
occupied. But if your fans of L.A. Gun's first disc you should check the
band out.