Sonic X - 'self-titled'
Released through Chavis Records in 2007
THE BAND:
Adam Troy
- vocals
Lawrence Falcomer - guitars & keyboards
Joseph Cumbo - bass
Michael Marquez - drums & percussion
TRACK FRAGMENTS:
1.) "Crawl" -This track opens with a few lead guitar solo licks before
going intro the main intro section. The main intro section consisted of a
tom-tom/snare drum pattern along with very simple heavy rhythm guitar
riff. The band used the same musical arrangement for the verse as the
intro section. The vocal lines of the verse had a very heavy sound to
them. There is a small rhythm guitar change for the pre-chorus. For
the pre-chorus the drummer also switches from a tom-tom pattern to a more
standard drum rhythm. There is a small vocal line change for the main
choruses of the song. It is very hard to tell if the backing harmonies of
the second verse were overdubbed or if there is a second vocalist. The
lead guitar solo was a mixture of eighties and modern hard rock
influences. After the second chorus there is a second guitar solo. This
solo is actually the major lead guitar solo of the song and runs over the top of
the outro section. Though the song's running time is exactly five minutes
long for one reason or another the song seemed very short.
2.) "Wicked" -This track opens with what sounds like a small backwards masking
effect. The rhythm guitar riffs of the intro section has a older seventies
feel to it. There is a small studio effect added to the snare drum pattern
of this track. There is a small lead vocal accent that opens the lead
vocal line of the opening verse. The lead vocal lines of the verse on this
track reminded me of some one else but at the moment who it is escapes me.
Not only does the rhythm guitar arrangement change for the pre-chorus but so
does the lead vocal sound. Which, really shows the lead vocalist vocal
ability. The lead vocal lines along with the backing harmonies of the
chorus have a huge hook attached to them. I loved the duet vocal backing
harmony at the tail end of the second verse. To me, these few vocal lines
solidifies the band as seasoned songwriters. As the lead guitar solo after
the second chorus progresses it gets more and more intense. There is a
huge vocal scream over the top of the outro section of the song.
3.) "Carried Away" -The intro to this track has a very simple hard rock sound to
it. The rhythm guitar riffs underneath the vocal lines of the verses had a
very lid back feel to them. There is a small rhythm change underneath the
chorus. Over the top of the musical chorus there is a small minor lead
guitar solo rhythm. The lead vocal lines and backing harmonies of this
chorus gives the song a very sweet hook. The breakdown after the first
chorus sounded like it was written by seasoned professional songwriters.
Though there is not much to say about this song do to it's simplicity, do not
let that fool you, this is one of the better songs on the release. There
is a small breakdown section in between the lead guitar solo and third chorus
were the band drops the electric guitar rhythm for an acoustic guitar.
There is a second lead guitar solo over the top of the outro section this lead
guitar solo is just as much of a major guitar solo as the first one was.
4.) "If Only" -The opening rhythm guitar riff and vocal accent of this intro was
heavily influenced by the songs Queensr˙che wrote for their 1988 opus
'Operation Mindcrime'. There are two
different rhythm guitar arrangements underneath the lead vocal lines of this
semi-type ballad. One of the rhythm guitar riffs was heavily reverbbed.
Once again I am taken a back by the melodic hooks of the backing vocals of the
chorus. There really is not much you can say about songs like this, but
awesome!!!!
5.) "My Condition" -The intro to this track consisted of a very heavy rhythm
guitar riff underneath a second rhythm guitar arrangement. In the way the
lead vocals of the verse were arranged reminded me a little of Sebastian Bach
and the stuff he sang on 'Slave To The Grind'. There is a small
arrangement change underneath the chorus. The last vocal line of the
chorus had a vocal echo attached to it. The more I listen to the lead
vocal lines of this track the more I come to the realization that the vocals
sound not only like Bach but several lead vocalist from the eighties era.
For the second chorus the lead vocal echo was dropped giving the second chorus a
little different feel. In the way the band blended in the lead guitar solo
fit perfectly with this type of arrangement.
6.) "Alive" -The intro to this track leads in from the outro of the previous
track. The rhythm guitar that opens this track had a very strange effect
attached to it. There is a small lead guitar rhythm over the top of the
main body of the intro. In the way the vocal accents were done matched the
rhythm guitar of the verse perfectly! The main rhythm guitar riffs had a
very catchy sound to them. The band used the same rhythm guitar riffs for
the verse as the intro and after hearing the song anyone can hear why. In
between the rhythm guitar riffs and the lead vocal lines there is a small lead
guitar solo rhythm. I felt the verses kind of bleed into the choruses a
little too much. There is a lead guitar solo after the second chorus.
Instead of putting the breakdown before the solo the breakdown is after the solo
section. Even with the verses and choruses bleeding into each other this
is still a killer sounding song!
7.) "Seeds Of Thunder" - This track opens with a radio effect before going into
a minor slide lead guitar solo. The rhythm guitar underneath the minor
lead guitar solo of the intro had a Jimmy Page feel to it. In the way the
lyric lines of the verse were arranged gives the verse an almost Jon Bon Jovi
feel. Not that the singer sounds like Jon it is the fact that the lyrical
arrangement are arranged the same way. There is a huge and I mean huge
vocal hook attached to the vocal lines of the chorus. Underneath the
chorus the band changes the lead guitar arrangement with the inclusion of a lead
guitar effect. This track has no lead guitar solo, but you know what, it
does not need one.
8.) "Evident" -The intro to this track consisted of a acoustic guitar underneath
a electric guitar rhythm riff. There is a small lead vocal line that
connects the intro to the verse. the musical verse leading into the
opening lead vocal line consisted of two different rhythm guitar riffs.
The verse had a very laid back feel to them. The chorus of this track was
huge! All in all this is another very simple yet amazing sounding song!
9.) "Shine" -This ballad was done with an acoustic guitar. At times the
rhythm guitar licks had a Hank Williams Jr. feel to them. The only drums
underneath the intro and verse is a bass drum pattern. At times over the
top of the main musical arrangement the is a small lead acoustic guitar rhythm.
The drum rhythm does not kick-in until I believe the third verse. This is
a very, very cool song. I was kind of hoping for an acoustic guitar solo,
but instead I got no solo at all.
10.) "Disgrace" -This track opens with a sixteenth-note intro section. The
lyrical and musical opening verse had a very intense musical feel to it.
All in all another very simple song that consisted of nothing flashy but huge
hooks.
11.) Breathe" -The intro to this track opens with a acoustical classical guitar
arrangement. Underneath the musical verse there is a small orchestration
section. Vocally the lyrical lines of the verse had an almost Geoff Tate
feel to them. The switching from acoustic guitar to the electric on the
musical chorus gives this song a very melodic feel. This track has jaw
dropping backing vocal harmonies! There is a lead guitar lick connecting
the first chorus to the second verse. With the rhythm guitar switching
back and forth between acoustic and electric guitar sounds gives the song a lot
of dynamics. The major lead guitar solo in between the second and third
chorus was very laid back and melodic.
12.) "Signs" - This track opens with a pre-musical intro section that
consists of a tom-tom drum pattern along with a bass line. Over the top of
this rhythm section there is a small rhythm guitar riff. At times over the
rhythm guitar, drum and bass line of this pre-intro there is a few lead guitar
licks. Sonic X kicks the main musical intro in with a very heavy rhythm
guitar riff. Connecting the main musical intro section with the opening
verse there is a minor wah-wah lead guitar solo. Adam's lead vocal lines
of the verses have a psychedelic drug sound to them. Which, really fit in
with the musical verse. There is a small minor lead guitar solo that
connects the vocal lines of the verse to the pre-chorus. The chorus
harmonies had a very laid back melodic feel to them. At times through the
musical arrangement there are these little lead guitar overdubs that really
intensify Adams vocals. Leading into the lead guitar solo it sounded like
the song was slowed down just a little. The more the solo progresses the
more melodic the solo gets. The outro section consisted of a a very short
classical acoustic guitar arrangement that you are not expecting at all!
When the smoke clears this release will be an essential
classic!!!!