Happy Valley churns out another one...abrAsion is the scathing debut from State College foursome A.M. Prophecy.
Singer/guitarist Brad Fey, bassist/keyboard man Greg Folsom, drummer Chris McGuire and lead guitarist Butch Sirera crank out
feisty, guitar-driven 90's brand rock, working in funk and blues flavorings and a fresh perspective as well. What I like most
about abrAsion is that it mostly rocks at a brisk pace, without a lot of tedious meandering or self-indulgent musical soul
searching.
A.M. Prophecy is a rock band first - the rhythms drive, the guitars show some muscle and bite, and vocally the group's harmonies
best recall Alice In Chains. This band has some interesting lyrics to boot; "Races" is about losing one's focus and integrity
in the heat of the rat race; "KFC's" words aren't about chicken or The Colonel, but seem to suggest the Monica Seles stabbing,
though we never really know who the victim actually is. In a more lighthearted vein, "Cover Band Blues" blasts the State
College bar scene (I take it The Brewery is not their favorite venue), and "Mother Earth" is a slightly overdone environmental
rant. My favorite tracks, though, are the openers "Typical" and "Fall," the ballad "Coincide," and especially the dark, driving
and spiritual "Come Down," even suggesting a hint of Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir."
Chris McGuire's production and mixing gives meat to the overall sound, and in all, abrAsion is a good opening package; a good
foundation of sounds for the group to progress from on future outings.
-Jim Price, Writer: Pennsylvania Musican
|
