Codejak
Garry from SAN PR recently sent us through details of Codejak and their debut album, Times Of Conflict which is due out this November. Having just come back from supporting Fozzy out on the road, this ‘alco-rock’ unit are force feeding the world their own brand of melody and skewed riffery which sets them apart from the rest of the pack, drawing from their influences and crafting a sound they can call their own. So we’ve got a debut album from a band that have shared the stage with the likes of Fozzy, The Buzzcocks, The Selector and Sham 69 – so all that’s left is to see what the 11 track album has in offer!
The Ballad Of Jenny G gets things going and immediately sets the scene for the record, opening with a raucous guitar sound and pounding sense of rhythm, harking towards classic rock and punk but with a new angle on things. Melodic and powerful from the word go, the track seems to almost evolve around you, luring you in to listen harder and showing that there are still bands out there producing real music and doing it damned well. The vocals were the biggest shock to me, coming in low and gravelly but managing to rove up to high pitched when the moment needs it, resulting in a sound which is going to get people singing along, joining in and wanting more and more from the band. Hell Yeah continues the idea, throwing us into a Buckcherry style melee of riffs from the word go and hammering into a funky mix of down and dirty rock music. Distorted but full of catchy hooks and bluesy rhythms, there’s a real sense of rock n roll running through this track marking it as one which is sure to become a live favourite, the sort of track which fans beg to see them play and then join in from start to finish.
When I Fall seems to fade things off initially, getting the track going in a more laid back style and showing that sometimes, easing the listener into things is a solid way of getting a track off to a good start. Soon resuming their groove orientated approach to rock n roll the track resumes the frantic and rolling pace, throwing out guitar line after guitar line, moment after moment, and a sense of accomplished songwriting. Throwing a catchy chorus into the mix just to make sure you’re well and truly converted, this is a stand out track on the album, and a moment which you need to make sure you check out for sure. Sail Away once again offers up a surprise to get things going, fading down to a soft and acoustic guitar line and allowing a natural sense of melody to form as the track gets going. Ushering in the powered up elements once again, this is a track which still manages to harness the power of the band, but it does it in a more subtle way, resulting in a track which is laid back, emotionally charged, and full of moments which will sit you back and simply make you think. Still managing to form a track which is going to get crowds moving, there’s a real sense that this is a live track once again, the sort of thing which will work insanely well on a festival stage and leave people wanting more.
Pull Out Your Knife, Broken Man, Serpentine and Start Again all continue to push the boundaries of the album, each track coming with its own take on the self styled rock of the band and showing what they’re capable of. The latter track, Start Again is another particular high point on the record, combining the power and melody with aplomb once again and resulting in a track which stands out as a veritable anthem in the waiting, a track which could be the break through single for the band, or simply a moment on the record that people are going to love. Falling Back From Grace loses all of this emotional and laid back sense though and once again returns us to the upbeat and rock styled approach of the band, starting with a sound akin to a power ballad straight out of the 80’s but soon moving back to their own unique sound. This is another high point on the album, and a track which I class as one of my personal favourites purely because it’s so damned catchy! Refusing to follow the conventions of what you would expect, this track may well be catchy and accessible, but it still manages to hold a sting in the tail and pack a punch, quality stuff.
Sell My Soul once again shows us the softer side of the band, opening softly and acoustically before once again moving us back towards the more upbeat tendencies of the record. There’s a real sense of laid back dark rock going on here, the sort of thing which is going to get people singing along and the sort of thing which is going to solidify the reputation of these guys on the live scene. It’s only left then to Little Boy to close the record, and what a finale to the album! Closing with an emotionally charged opening and leaving no doubt that Codejak are here and ready for some serious attention, the closing moments of this record are amongst the most powerful on the record, finishing on a serious high and paving the way for what’s to follow. Standing out as another serious high point on the record, this final track on the album isn’t just a track you should listen to, it’s a moment you need to hear, and a track which seems to epitomise the sound of the band, a hell of a finish to a cracking album.
When a band have achieved the highs that Codejak have in their career, it’s always a relatively safe bet to say it’s going to be a good album, but I wasn’t prepared for just how accomplished this record really sounds. From start to finish it’s like being transported along with the band, shown a story and immersed in their world. It’s hard to put into words, but this isn’t an album you listen to, it’s an album you feel, and one which stands out as a high point of the releases this year.
To find out more about Codejak, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
The Ballad Of Jenny G gets things going and immediately sets the scene for the record, opening with a raucous guitar sound and pounding sense of rhythm, harking towards classic rock and punk but with a new angle on things. Melodic and powerful from the word go, the track seems to almost evolve around you, luring you in to listen harder and showing that there are still bands out there producing real music and doing it damned well. The vocals were the biggest shock to me, coming in low and gravelly but managing to rove up to high pitched when the moment needs it, resulting in a sound which is going to get people singing along, joining in and wanting more and more from the band. Hell Yeah continues the idea, throwing us into a Buckcherry style melee of riffs from the word go and hammering into a funky mix of down and dirty rock music. Distorted but full of catchy hooks and bluesy rhythms, there’s a real sense of rock n roll running through this track marking it as one which is sure to become a live favourite, the sort of track which fans beg to see them play and then join in from start to finish.
When I Fall seems to fade things off initially, getting the track going in a more laid back style and showing that sometimes, easing the listener into things is a solid way of getting a track off to a good start. Soon resuming their groove orientated approach to rock n roll the track resumes the frantic and rolling pace, throwing out guitar line after guitar line, moment after moment, and a sense of accomplished songwriting. Throwing a catchy chorus into the mix just to make sure you’re well and truly converted, this is a stand out track on the album, and a moment which you need to make sure you check out for sure. Sail Away once again offers up a surprise to get things going, fading down to a soft and acoustic guitar line and allowing a natural sense of melody to form as the track gets going. Ushering in the powered up elements once again, this is a track which still manages to harness the power of the band, but it does it in a more subtle way, resulting in a track which is laid back, emotionally charged, and full of moments which will sit you back and simply make you think. Still managing to form a track which is going to get crowds moving, there’s a real sense that this is a live track once again, the sort of thing which will work insanely well on a festival stage and leave people wanting more.
Pull Out Your Knife, Broken Man, Serpentine and Start Again all continue to push the boundaries of the album, each track coming with its own take on the self styled rock of the band and showing what they’re capable of. The latter track, Start Again is another particular high point on the record, combining the power and melody with aplomb once again and resulting in a track which stands out as a veritable anthem in the waiting, a track which could be the break through single for the band, or simply a moment on the record that people are going to love. Falling Back From Grace loses all of this emotional and laid back sense though and once again returns us to the upbeat and rock styled approach of the band, starting with a sound akin to a power ballad straight out of the 80’s but soon moving back to their own unique sound. This is another high point on the album, and a track which I class as one of my personal favourites purely because it’s so damned catchy! Refusing to follow the conventions of what you would expect, this track may well be catchy and accessible, but it still manages to hold a sting in the tail and pack a punch, quality stuff.
Sell My Soul once again shows us the softer side of the band, opening softly and acoustically before once again moving us back towards the more upbeat tendencies of the record. There’s a real sense of laid back dark rock going on here, the sort of thing which is going to get people singing along and the sort of thing which is going to solidify the reputation of these guys on the live scene. It’s only left then to Little Boy to close the record, and what a finale to the album! Closing with an emotionally charged opening and leaving no doubt that Codejak are here and ready for some serious attention, the closing moments of this record are amongst the most powerful on the record, finishing on a serious high and paving the way for what’s to follow. Standing out as another serious high point on the record, this final track on the album isn’t just a track you should listen to, it’s a moment you need to hear, and a track which seems to epitomise the sound of the band, a hell of a finish to a cracking album.
When a band have achieved the highs that Codejak have in their career, it’s always a relatively safe bet to say it’s going to be a good album, but I wasn’t prepared for just how accomplished this record really sounds. From start to finish it’s like being transported along with the band, shown a story and immersed in their world. It’s hard to put into words, but this isn’t an album you listen to, it’s an album you feel, and one which stands out as a high point of the releases this year.
To find out more about Codejak, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls