Pompeii Nights
Pompei Nights say themselves that they are ‘gonna be the next BIG rock n roll arena band’, which sounds like strong words when you first read them, but you’ve got to have a goal in life right! Recording and releasing their album ‘Rather Die Than Living in Boundaries’, the band have firmly set their sights on world domination, describing their sound as ‘new classic rock n roll’. The band openly say on their one sheet that the music is catchy and easy to listen to, and that they’re not out to copy bands from the past – saying that this is rock n roll which is branded on their skin and pulses in their veins – so onto the ten tracks then!
From the moment that Midnight Mistress opens the album, there’s a sense that the band might not be over selling themselves after all! Opening with a soaring guitar line over a downright dirty backing track, this is a band who have got their sound and know what they’re out to achieve. Catchy from the word go, this is pure rock music done well – there’s chunky guitar lines, solid powerful vocals and bass heavy rhythms, all of which combine to form a track which you’re going to hear and immediately want to move along to. Shaded follows the theme on and once again throws down with a rocky intro which is sure to get live crowds ready for everything the band has to throw at them. Using their own ability to craft the tracks rather than adding in too much distortion or effects, this is simple rock done well – and I love it!
Out Of Bounds seems to mark a change on the album, almost opening like a Midnight Oil (reference for our Australian fans out there!) track, soft yet with hints at further power to follow on. Building into the track fully, things are kept restrained throughout this track, at no point allowing the power to carry the track away. I like the classic feeling to this track as it progresses, there’s something about it which is really laid back and engaging, you want to be hearing this with some good friends and a few beers! This is probably my personal favourite track from the album, mainly down to the catchiness of it as it continues to build throughout. Not content at keeping things laid back for too long, Mistreated brings in moments of sheer rock goodness, almost building into the pure classic rock feel of She’s Stuck with its funky guitar line. I love the approach these guys have taken to their music, it’s classic yet fresh throughout, this is going to appeal to old and new fans alike.
Leave It All Up is another high point on the album for sure, once again throwing catchy hooks at you from every direction and creating a track which is going to make you want to strut around with your air guitar throwing shapes at all and sunder to see! High On Adrenaline on the other hand is a downright solid NWOBHM track, harking to the likes of Maiden from the word go. This is the sort of track you pray bands will play live, it’s got those qualities which everyone in a venue is going to respond to, getting everyone moving and singing along!
The Scene is Set and Painful Heartbeat close the album, both offering up a different approach but both closing the album perfectly. Hard and soft combines throughout this album and you end up with an album which has moments of pure energy combined with moments which are going to have you sitting back reflecting on love which you’ve lost over the years. Personally, Painful Heartbeat is the perfect closing track for me, it leaves you in a state of reflection and contemplation, considering what you’ve heard and making you want even more to see these guys live.
Pompeii Nights obviously have a lot of drive and ambition, and sometimes this can be a bad thing as bands can’t back it up with ability. In this case though, I firmly believe that these guys could well achieve something pretty damned big, they’ve just got to keep their heads on the job and keep their focus. There’s moments of pure genius on this album, and other moments which will leave you questioning why they did it, but throughout there’s a real sense that this could well be the future of rock music, and I for one am excited to see what comes!
To find out more about Pompeii Nights, check out their MySpace page HERE.
From the moment that Midnight Mistress opens the album, there’s a sense that the band might not be over selling themselves after all! Opening with a soaring guitar line over a downright dirty backing track, this is a band who have got their sound and know what they’re out to achieve. Catchy from the word go, this is pure rock music done well – there’s chunky guitar lines, solid powerful vocals and bass heavy rhythms, all of which combine to form a track which you’re going to hear and immediately want to move along to. Shaded follows the theme on and once again throws down with a rocky intro which is sure to get live crowds ready for everything the band has to throw at them. Using their own ability to craft the tracks rather than adding in too much distortion or effects, this is simple rock done well – and I love it!
Out Of Bounds seems to mark a change on the album, almost opening like a Midnight Oil (reference for our Australian fans out there!) track, soft yet with hints at further power to follow on. Building into the track fully, things are kept restrained throughout this track, at no point allowing the power to carry the track away. I like the classic feeling to this track as it progresses, there’s something about it which is really laid back and engaging, you want to be hearing this with some good friends and a few beers! This is probably my personal favourite track from the album, mainly down to the catchiness of it as it continues to build throughout. Not content at keeping things laid back for too long, Mistreated brings in moments of sheer rock goodness, almost building into the pure classic rock feel of She’s Stuck with its funky guitar line. I love the approach these guys have taken to their music, it’s classic yet fresh throughout, this is going to appeal to old and new fans alike.
Leave It All Up is another high point on the album for sure, once again throwing catchy hooks at you from every direction and creating a track which is going to make you want to strut around with your air guitar throwing shapes at all and sunder to see! High On Adrenaline on the other hand is a downright solid NWOBHM track, harking to the likes of Maiden from the word go. This is the sort of track you pray bands will play live, it’s got those qualities which everyone in a venue is going to respond to, getting everyone moving and singing along!
The Scene is Set and Painful Heartbeat close the album, both offering up a different approach but both closing the album perfectly. Hard and soft combines throughout this album and you end up with an album which has moments of pure energy combined with moments which are going to have you sitting back reflecting on love which you’ve lost over the years. Personally, Painful Heartbeat is the perfect closing track for me, it leaves you in a state of reflection and contemplation, considering what you’ve heard and making you want even more to see these guys live.
Pompeii Nights obviously have a lot of drive and ambition, and sometimes this can be a bad thing as bands can’t back it up with ability. In this case though, I firmly believe that these guys could well achieve something pretty damned big, they’ve just got to keep their heads on the job and keep their focus. There’s moments of pure genius on this album, and other moments which will leave you questioning why they did it, but throughout there’s a real sense that this could well be the future of rock music, and I for one am excited to see what comes!
To find out more about Pompeii Nights, check out their MySpace page HERE.