The Rap/Rock scene isn’t what it used to be due to the deluge of bands a few years back that got signed and quickly flooded the scene with more music than anyone every wanted. The scene built it self up high but due to the lack of strong bands it collapsed under its own weight. This needed to happen as it gets the fluff out of the way and what we are left with is quality and with their new album One Shot, AlukarD shows they are a strong foundation worth building on again.
“44 Kaliber Love Letter” literally comes screaming at you from the intro. The guitar riff that opens the song is simple and gets to the point across fast that this is a song built on raw energy. By the time the vocals come in you’re already moving straight ahead at full speed and E. Grizzly puts the throttle down with a chorus made for singing along to.
AlukarD is more versatile than a Swiss army knife in the hands of MacGyver. They show proficiency in nearly all styles they take on. They display great harmonies in the song “Just Maybe” which chronicles their career. The song isn’t a radio hit but you will wear your speakers out listening to it because it is so well crafted and quite beautiful. It shows that this group is quite capable of taking on deeper songs and more complex harmonies than your average group of Rap/Rock boys. “Everyday Life” should be spinning on the radio now with its easy hook that calls out for the sing along. The strength of the original material makes it seem like an odd choice to include “Conversion” which incorporates the hook from “Tainted Love” by the 80’s pop band Soft Cell. I’m confused by the inclusion of this as it doesn’t add anything to the album or the song.
One Shot is fun. It is one of those albums that you wear out in anticipation of what is coming next. AlukarD is more than you average hip hop influenced rock band. They have a much deeper core that I hope will be around for a long time to reveal itself fully.
Hot Tracks- Just Maybe, 44 Kaliber Love Letter, Everyday Life
Doug Morrissey-Muzikreviews.com Staff
June 8, 2010
