We are always impressed with the amount of talent that comes out of Detroit, in fact all of Michigan, where on any given night you can find top quality music being pumped out on many a stage across the region. So it should have come as no surprise to us when we were completely enthralled with the self-titled debut release from Detroit's own Seasons of Eden, one of Detroit's newest bands, formed late last year from members of various Detroit rock stalwarts. This 7-track release is an eclectic collection of straight ahead, high-speed, low drag, fist-pumping, rock & roll that reverberates with the echoes of the familiar while still being unique enough to be fresh. It represents the well diverse collection of members, as Michael Hughes (vox), Cymak Ashtiani (guitar), Derek Cooke (guitar),The Wolf Himself (bass) and Jay Thomas (drums), have each brought their experiences with previous projects and styles together to create an amazing sound that stands out among Detroit's crowded scene.
Leading off the disc is The Machine, defining SOE's hard rocking sound. Instantly recognizable, complete with driving rhythms, crunching guitar riffs, and a blazing solo that sets up an amazing anthem like chorus. We at DR2 have always appreciated a disc that starts immediately with a track that grabs you by the throat and gets your attention, The Machine does exactly that.
Hollow picks up where The Machine leaves off, delivering a swath of squealing guitars and hammering drums that remind us of Dio in his prime. No let-up here. It was about halfway through this track that we began to feel that there might be something special here and by the time Demons Inside had hit its crescendo, we were sure. This is no garage band, no here today, gone tomorrow effort. This is a well-polished, finely crafted gem of a band. Hughes' vocals have that prototype rock range, Cmak has no equal on the axe and we've seen Jay tear up the neon-lit, kit live while he, The Wolf, and Cooke keep the triphammer beat and rhythm that complete this quintessential rock sound.
With the tone set, SOE soars through 4 more tracks that range from the more radio-friendly and hooky, Demons Inside, quite possibly the best trax of the disc, to the post-grunge ballad Withdrawn, only to finish on a high note, with what we think may be the sleeper hit of the disc, Race Of The Jaded. This song is the one that will have every metal head throwing his fist in the air to "...all hail the race of the jaded! Hail!!....".
The debut disc from Seasons of Eden contains all the earmarks of the beginning of something special that we sense may just be something everyone wants to hear across the airwaves today. Be sure to check the guys out, they're listed over in the Dr2 Links, and then hit up a show where you can grab a copy for yourself, and while you're at it, look for Dr2, we'll be the ones up front with our fists in the air, devil horns up!! DetroitRockReview.com - The Only Place for Local Music News & Reviews!
