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BLASTED TO STATIC
"Blasted to Static"
(Metalopolis; 2016)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
You might expect Blasted to Static's self-titled debut to be a great album based solely on its pedigree: Making up the band are Jeff Martin (Racer X / Badlands / Surgical Steel), Stu Marshall (Death Dealer / Empires of Eden / Dungeon), Bass - Rev Jones (MSG / Steelheart / Gundriver), and Drums - Clay T.
And you'd be right - it is a great album. But maybe not for the reasons you'd think. It doesn't sound like any of the bands listed above but rather an amazing combination of them all. It doesn't have the speed of Racer X, but it's got the fiery guitar, especially in the solos which make each song bigger than life. Check out Marshall's work on "Requiem Part 2," for example. This track is all about the guitar and Marshall delivers fretwork here that is rich and engrossing. Vocalist Jeff Martin shines throughout, especially on the slower, most soulful track, "Lovesick Blues." But even when his voice isn't the focus (as it definitely is on "Lovesick Blues," Martin's performance here is terrific; his amazing range of voices make certain that each track has exactly the vocal style it needs.
The songs, for the most part, are all hard rockers with a nice rough edge, both in lyric style and delivery. And there isn't an ounce of filler to be found here.
I really didn't know what to expect from Blasted to Static, but this is a great CD that I will enjoy listening to often.
Blasted to Static: Jeff Martin - vocals; Stu Marshall - guitars; Rev Jones - bass; Clay T - drums.
For more information, check out http://www.blastedtostatic.com/.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 2017 by R. Scott Bolton. All rights reserved.
