Heavy Metal Resource Reviews-Bob Katsionis, The Outfit, Cavo, Reach, & Facing Fire

Index

I remember really liking the material released by Bob Katsionis on his debut solo record. It was intriguing enough for me to keep an eye on the various acts he was associated with as well as solo material. That's been quite some time, but we haven't revisited his solo stuff for quite a while. This latest release is an amazing batch of instrumental tracks that offer up many different soundscapes. You can tell how much his songwriting has evolved with this release. There is plenty of heavier stuff but do not miss stuff like 'Dark Matter' which is also up on Youtube as a cinematic video. Some people shy away from instrumental albums as there is a degree of sophistication that goes with them. 'Prognosis & Synopsis' has that sophistication, but also has the enjoyment element to a high degree. I am a big fan of this record and highly recommend it!

Release Date: February 17, 2018

The Outfit are a four piece band that deliver their rock music in a fairly mainstream heavy rock style. The album tends to be memorable and catchy through most of the listen. The band mostly hail from Chicago with Mark and Matt Nawara, Matt Gorman, and Phoenix based drummer Andy Mitchell showing a slab of tunes that have a veteran feel. Musically, it also has a more modern feel to it and would be a good fit for today's rock radio. You will be able to check out this band via Youtube with a couple of tracks so far including 'Soldier Boy' and 'Wire' which is the rocking opener and one of my personal favorites. Coming out of this listen you will notice that it is consistent in terms of the way it all sounds. The album has been out a short time and the track 'Soldier Boy' has been making some noise in the charts. Good band to keep an eye on!

Release Date: February 2, 2018

Sometimes things can be pretty complicated when it comes to making music. Cavo was almost a band that was done and gone. It eventually ended up being more of a hiatus and return to a bit of new direction. A change of focus if you like. I followed the band on their previous releases and thought they were decent, but found myself spending much more time with this latest special edition release 'Bridges'. The musical direction has a very upbeat feel and delivery is very smooth. Take a listen to the alt mix of 'Champagne' compared to the original from their 'Bright Nights Dark Days' album. The band are going in this direction for the time being and musically it's a decent feel for them. The fans will ultimately decide, but I can't help but think this isn't a bad experimentation at all. Some good radio potential and quite a bit of bang for your buck with this album.

Release Date: February 23, 2018

Surprises coming with this new release. I went back to the previous album by Reach to familiarize myself with their sound as it had been some time since I listened to them. This album has a change in sound. It's evident right away with the track 'Into Tomorrow'. The music leans quite a bit more modern and has a bit more depth to it. There are times that I was feeling a bit of Muse in it. One thing is for sure, I have been playing this new album a lot and probably will continue to do so as I like the bands sound on this record. It will be very interesting to see what fans think. There is no denying the change here as the earlier music was much more melodic hard rock in its approach. Regardless of where things land, I will keep enjoying both styles the band has offered. It's nice to see this kind of growth and risk being taken. Recommended!

Release Date: February 23, 2018

This fresh Ohio based modern rock outfit has just sprung their 4 track e.p. upon the music scene. The band has been together since 2016 and signed their deal with Pavement last year. The music on this album as mentioned has a more modern heavy sound overall but does have crossover appeal in ways to fans of more traditional heavy music fans. The 4 tracks are all in the heavier end of the spectrum and feel consistent with each other in terms of style. I personally like this sound and listen to other bands in the genre that offer up music such as this. Probably the only downside is that it is 4 tracks. Would love to see what the band is capable of when it comes to a full slab of music. That will be something to watch for in the future as I feel these guys should make some noise in the scene. If you like it heavy with a modern feel, this is a great taster e.p.!

Release Date: February 16, 2018