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SOLID SOLUTION
"Demo 2002" (Self-produced; 2002)
Reviewed by Christopher J. Kelter
Solid Solution is a female-fronted band from Chicago that delivers crunching, hard rockin' songs. Solid Solution could be poised for local success at a minimum with more experience and a little more oomph to their songwriting and delivery.
This three-track demo is enough of a taste to encourage the band to continue working their musical trade. The music fits the mold of alt-metal/alt-rock with enough classic hard rock sounds to keep a variety of listeners interested. The vocalist sounds like a cross between Pat Benatar, Joan Jett, and Page Hamilton. The guitars stick to riff-oriented material while the rhythm section gets more time to shine in thirteen minutes than most rhythm sections get in a whole 45-minute album.
The first track is a pile-driving number that is radio-friendly and aggressive. The second track brings straight-forward, up-tempo riffing into the mix. However, this track goes on a little too long for its own good - cutting about a minute off this track would be a good idea in future recordings. The third song adds classic AC/DC like crunch to the intro before spinning off into a catchy, near-perfect alt-rock/punk-ish ditty that would sound great as the last song of a long sweaty set or as an encore (including a chaotic breakdown at the end of the song).
The production, as is to be expected with a demo, is a little rough 'round the edges, but nothing that would make a record industry executive interested in hearing new talent turn it off.
Solid Solution is Barbi Allen on vocals, Jeremy Smukowski on guitar, Matt Longhurst on bass, and Jason Wright on drums.
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 © 2003 by R.
Scott Bolton. All rights reserved.
Revised:
04 Oct 2020 15:25:38 -0400.
