BastRad - Riff Propelled Grenade
I’ve checked out BastRad before, and at the time, thoroughly enjoyed what I heard – so when I was contacted by the splendid chaps that make up the band about their latest record, Rocket Propelled Grenade, I figured I should probably pay attention to what they were saying. Having been keeping up with the guys since that first fateful day, I’m fully aware of how hard they work, how dedicated they are to their music, and how shwangtastic the results can be when they put their minds to it – so was looking forward to seeing what this latest 5 track offering held in store for me.
Launching straight into Supernatural High there’s no intro or faffing, instead a launch straight into a riff fuelled melee of hammering guitar lines, pounding drums and heavy assed bass, all backed up by a soaring lead line. Fast paced and distorted from the word go, the vocals come in to fully set us up, showing off the full arsenal that BastRad have put together on this aural assault. Powerful and in your face, this is the real deal, music designed to get you jumping, moving, feeling and loving every second of it, paying testament to their hard work and determination. Despite the full on and in your face approach, the chaps have managed to incorporate a real sense of catchiness into the mix, the sort of thing that’ll hook you in and have you humming the track for days to come whilst wishing you could hammer out some of the intricate lead lines on offer – starting the record off in style and confirming all thoughts that we were on to a winner with the band. ‘You’re my supernatural high, take me to the sky, I don’t wanna die’ – give it a listen and you’ll be singing along in no time, suggesting we’ve also stumbled across a real live favourite in this one.
Moving on to One Thousand Tears Of Pain we’re presented with a different side of the band initially, this time opting to open with stormy sound effects and an almost calming and soothing guitar line, still rooted in the bass heavy world of darkness but somehow creating a sense of laid back harmony. Gradually building through the introduction of another soaring lead line, the track continues its hauntingly beautiful journey, gradually luring you in until the inevitable happens – all hell breaks loose. Kicking into a pinch harmonic bolstered mix of chunky guitar lines, bass heavy rhythms and those awesome vocals, the track resumes the records distorted journey, pulling you into the melee and keeping you there safe in the knowledge that there is still a driving force in the world of chunky, distorted rock. Title track Riff Propelled Grenade comes up next and once again, presents us with another solid track packed with distorted riffery and bass lines heavy enough to shake the fillings out of your teeth. Deep, chunky, powerful and further testament to the bands drive to only do their best, the slowed down opening riffs of this track present us with perhaps the heaviest moment on the record, but a moment that delivers by the bucket load. Shifting up a gear into a galloping mix of straight up power, it’s easy to see why the guys chose this as their title track as simply, it stands out as not only a high point on the record, but a track that’s surely destined for big things. Catchy, powerful and packed with enough power to level a city – this is another moment you need to hear, and a moment you’ll come back to time and time again.
Moving on to Blackthorn Princess (dedication to the cider there perhaps? Or the plant? Who knows…but I digress) the continuity of the record is in safe hands, launching us head first into a lead line fuelled melee of hammering guitar work, thundering drum lines and almost punk-esque vocal moments. Fast paced and raw, this is another track which has been perfectly crafted for the live scene, the sort of thing that will get pits moving, venues pumping, and people begging for more. Even going so far as to add in a solo of epic proportions just to make sure you’re fully engaged, it’s hard to pick fault on a track like this, so suffice to say it’s yet another solid offering. It’s only then left to Drive to close the record, finishing on a track which doesn’t give anything away as it opens, but builds into another epic, dramatic masterpiece, packed with all the good stuff we want to hear in the world of rock and metal. Soaring vocal lines combine with the galloping drum line whilst the duelling guitars keep the mix alive, finishing the record in style and leaving you safe in the knowledge that BastRad are here, and they’re going to be a serious force to be reckoned with.
There have been a few occasions over the last year or so when I’ve been invited up to see BastRad live, but have been unable to make it for whatever reason – but this is going to change. Riff Propelled Grenade isn’t just a solid offering, it’s a blindingly good record from a band who know what they want, and know how to get it. Standing out as one of the best put together releases I’ve heard this year, this is the record that’s going to put BastRad on the map, the one that will get them noticed, and the one that people will say ‘I was there’ when it’s talked about.
Quite simply – you’d be a fool not to listen to this.
To find out more about BastRad, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave ‘Shwangtastic’ Nicholls
Launching straight into Supernatural High there’s no intro or faffing, instead a launch straight into a riff fuelled melee of hammering guitar lines, pounding drums and heavy assed bass, all backed up by a soaring lead line. Fast paced and distorted from the word go, the vocals come in to fully set us up, showing off the full arsenal that BastRad have put together on this aural assault. Powerful and in your face, this is the real deal, music designed to get you jumping, moving, feeling and loving every second of it, paying testament to their hard work and determination. Despite the full on and in your face approach, the chaps have managed to incorporate a real sense of catchiness into the mix, the sort of thing that’ll hook you in and have you humming the track for days to come whilst wishing you could hammer out some of the intricate lead lines on offer – starting the record off in style and confirming all thoughts that we were on to a winner with the band. ‘You’re my supernatural high, take me to the sky, I don’t wanna die’ – give it a listen and you’ll be singing along in no time, suggesting we’ve also stumbled across a real live favourite in this one.
Moving on to One Thousand Tears Of Pain we’re presented with a different side of the band initially, this time opting to open with stormy sound effects and an almost calming and soothing guitar line, still rooted in the bass heavy world of darkness but somehow creating a sense of laid back harmony. Gradually building through the introduction of another soaring lead line, the track continues its hauntingly beautiful journey, gradually luring you in until the inevitable happens – all hell breaks loose. Kicking into a pinch harmonic bolstered mix of chunky guitar lines, bass heavy rhythms and those awesome vocals, the track resumes the records distorted journey, pulling you into the melee and keeping you there safe in the knowledge that there is still a driving force in the world of chunky, distorted rock. Title track Riff Propelled Grenade comes up next and once again, presents us with another solid track packed with distorted riffery and bass lines heavy enough to shake the fillings out of your teeth. Deep, chunky, powerful and further testament to the bands drive to only do their best, the slowed down opening riffs of this track present us with perhaps the heaviest moment on the record, but a moment that delivers by the bucket load. Shifting up a gear into a galloping mix of straight up power, it’s easy to see why the guys chose this as their title track as simply, it stands out as not only a high point on the record, but a track that’s surely destined for big things. Catchy, powerful and packed with enough power to level a city – this is another moment you need to hear, and a moment you’ll come back to time and time again.
Moving on to Blackthorn Princess (dedication to the cider there perhaps? Or the plant? Who knows…but I digress) the continuity of the record is in safe hands, launching us head first into a lead line fuelled melee of hammering guitar work, thundering drum lines and almost punk-esque vocal moments. Fast paced and raw, this is another track which has been perfectly crafted for the live scene, the sort of thing that will get pits moving, venues pumping, and people begging for more. Even going so far as to add in a solo of epic proportions just to make sure you’re fully engaged, it’s hard to pick fault on a track like this, so suffice to say it’s yet another solid offering. It’s only then left to Drive to close the record, finishing on a track which doesn’t give anything away as it opens, but builds into another epic, dramatic masterpiece, packed with all the good stuff we want to hear in the world of rock and metal. Soaring vocal lines combine with the galloping drum line whilst the duelling guitars keep the mix alive, finishing the record in style and leaving you safe in the knowledge that BastRad are here, and they’re going to be a serious force to be reckoned with.
There have been a few occasions over the last year or so when I’ve been invited up to see BastRad live, but have been unable to make it for whatever reason – but this is going to change. Riff Propelled Grenade isn’t just a solid offering, it’s a blindingly good record from a band who know what they want, and know how to get it. Standing out as one of the best put together releases I’ve heard this year, this is the record that’s going to put BastRad on the map, the one that will get them noticed, and the one that people will say ‘I was there’ when it’s talked about.
Quite simply – you’d be a fool not to listen to this.
To find out more about BastRad, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave ‘Shwangtastic’ Nicholls
BastRad
York based BastRad recently dropped us an email about their music to see what we could do to get something up and posted. My one issue so far…..I’ve typed their name wrong so many times and ended up writing the inevitable….but I’m not going to hold that against them!
Conformity Breeds Disease opens the selection on the bands FB page, opening with rolling drums and riffing guitars, this is a winning intro to a track! Breaking down from the intro into a faster riff as the track begins properly, the vocals kick in and do not sound at all like I was expecting! The opening suggested this was going to be something with some roaring or screaming, instead the vocals are kept to an almost old skool rock style, clean yet raw and energetic, this surprise is awesome! The guitars continue to riff around behind the soaring vocals whilst the drums pound away giving a real sense of pace to the track, it’s almost catchy whilst still keeping a raw and heavy approach to things. Anyone who listens to this and isn’t singing along with ‘breeds disease’ is a better person than me…I found myself doing it after only 2 listens! Kicking into a guitar solo to make sure you’re still there and paying attention, this is a band who have got their own sound and know how to play it well – bravo guys!
Drive continues in much the same vein, opening with guitars played in different ways, a bit of staccato in the back ground as the riff comes into being and the drums take over the pace – the effect is quite simply awesome. Kicking into the track properly, the bass line underpins a dual guitar line as the drums continue to pound away, this is a track which would be at home on any stage anywhere in the country, it’s akin to the bands of NWOBHM whilst sounding fresh and new, updated almost. This track is far catchier than the last one and will once again have you chanting along with ‘drive me crazy drive me home’, I can’t get enough of it. Continuing on this theme until the second the track ends, you’re left without a single question in your mind when it ends, this band have somehow written a track which has left me with nothing to say other than please, go and listen to them.
I don’t know what I expected from BastRad, their name and opening style suggested something to me, which is my bad for having preconceptions. What I’ve been faced with though is face melting solos, awesome dual guitar lines, rolling drums, roving bass lines and soaring vocals – these guys seriously know what they’re doing. They say on their page that they want to inject some heavy new life into today’s commercialised music scene – well chaps – I think you’ve just done it. All I can really say other than check them out, is more please!
To find out more about BastRad, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Conformity Breeds Disease opens the selection on the bands FB page, opening with rolling drums and riffing guitars, this is a winning intro to a track! Breaking down from the intro into a faster riff as the track begins properly, the vocals kick in and do not sound at all like I was expecting! The opening suggested this was going to be something with some roaring or screaming, instead the vocals are kept to an almost old skool rock style, clean yet raw and energetic, this surprise is awesome! The guitars continue to riff around behind the soaring vocals whilst the drums pound away giving a real sense of pace to the track, it’s almost catchy whilst still keeping a raw and heavy approach to things. Anyone who listens to this and isn’t singing along with ‘breeds disease’ is a better person than me…I found myself doing it after only 2 listens! Kicking into a guitar solo to make sure you’re still there and paying attention, this is a band who have got their own sound and know how to play it well – bravo guys!
Drive continues in much the same vein, opening with guitars played in different ways, a bit of staccato in the back ground as the riff comes into being and the drums take over the pace – the effect is quite simply awesome. Kicking into the track properly, the bass line underpins a dual guitar line as the drums continue to pound away, this is a track which would be at home on any stage anywhere in the country, it’s akin to the bands of NWOBHM whilst sounding fresh and new, updated almost. This track is far catchier than the last one and will once again have you chanting along with ‘drive me crazy drive me home’, I can’t get enough of it. Continuing on this theme until the second the track ends, you’re left without a single question in your mind when it ends, this band have somehow written a track which has left me with nothing to say other than please, go and listen to them.
I don’t know what I expected from BastRad, their name and opening style suggested something to me, which is my bad for having preconceptions. What I’ve been faced with though is face melting solos, awesome dual guitar lines, rolling drums, roving bass lines and soaring vocals – these guys seriously know what they’re doing. They say on their page that they want to inject some heavy new life into today’s commercialised music scene – well chaps – I think you’ve just done it. All I can really say other than check them out, is more please!
To find out more about BastRad, check out their Facebook page HERE.