"From the Darkness"
As reviewed on rafabasa.com (Spanish Metal Webzine)
http://www.rafabasa.com/2014/10/16/critica-del-cd-de-easy-rider-from-the-darkness/
After several years of hiatus in recording activity, we have back EASY RIDER with "From The Darkness", a work which is not only the perfect connection with fans of the band eleven years after the departure of "Animal", but rather they show us that the ideas were not lost on the long road, providing their identifiable seal or hallmark with the band taking it to another level beyond if possible. In fact they dare with a concept album about an apocalyptic dystopia that in terms of theme, I pointed to those movies so in vogue in the years where science fiction was an art based on the paper-mache to images by computer and where the immediate future for humanity proved pretty dire. In addition, at the end of each track, they have included short passages, most instrumental although with no dialogue, in order to create the environment or narrative needed for the connection of a subject with the next and bringing cohesion to the story in "From The Darkness".
I liked the sound balance which has been achieved for all instruments, although in some subjects, the voice is perhaps above the instruments in the mix. In particular, let’s say the work of Ron is fantastic, leaving us a vocal lines of the most original, emphasizing its way to interpret the texts according to the fragment of the story that is being told at that time. The conjunction of the rhythm, bass and drums, is well accomplished, in fact the presence of the kick drum and the drums in general are blunt which I quite like and doing justice to the great technical ability their drummer Rafa has. Guitars are not left behind, solid with a very good general development of solos, riffs and melodies.
I also highlight the cold album cover, with five human figures with no expression on their face (without hair, nose, mouth or eye iris), one being in the Center position in preparation for the fight and the other in acts of helplessness and submission although communicating bodily, especially with regard to the placement of arms.
Let's break down the twelve different cuts (eleven songs plus an intro) that make up "From The Darkness", and it is that after the thirty seconds of "Apocalypse", which is an environmental piece without music, we have the first surprise with "After the Fall" which begins as a large opening piece musically “in your face” in every rule, pure heavy metal without hesitation, but in its development we already find contrasts, especially with the verses cutting to a half-time tempo and with vocal melodies that are quite original and non-standard, giving more in terms of loudness in the stanza and taking a giant step in the chorus, where as the basic rhythm of the guitars going at full speed. Ron performs heartbreakingly the lyrics where each chorus ends in "a world that's gone mad” (, a world that's gone mad...").
"The Calling" is so dynamic and continues to provide us with another Chorus with a very good sensation, (the bands trade mark,) where Ron does not hesitate to unload how much is necessary, with some very interesting voices alongside the guitar solo. "Lab" Otomy "is the hardest of the disc, with super-heavy riffs and rhythms and another double chorus for “suitable for framing”. In similar textures moves "The Rockpile", which has slow sections and somewhat “agonizing in feeling” musically based on the minor harmonic scale, even touching on the characteristic Arab flavor. "She Makes Me Live" is another one of the surprises and, without any doubt, that is the catchy song upon first listen though it thrives on hard riffs between the parts that conforms it where the double bass drum propelling its verses and choruses ”rubbing the hard rock”. This concession to a more melodic terrain means the perfect bridge to resume with the heavy metal of "Signals", a top 100 EASY RIDER classic.
"Deliver Us From Evil", or how to show how a good singer is not only someone who hits key notes, has a more or less broad range that he knows how to use, but also possess the ability to interpret what his vocal cords exhale while also makes it the “skin” of the main character, is a great song and personally my favorite. "Defiance" is in structure, simple and direct, necessary and most in the order in which has been included within the disk to make your listening more entertaining and dynamic as possible. In "Before You Learned To Pray", I liked a lot the progression of the bridge to the chorus, contrasting with a few bars half acoustic half electric taking a “drink” directly from the Queensrÿche school of rock. "Live for Another Day" is another pitch of heavy metal, all a balloon probe those who have followed Easy Rider since their inception, finishing with a no less powerful "Day Of The Dead" where a terrifying Ron heading another vocal performance suitable for framing.
There is no doubt, in short, that this album was worth the wait. EASY RIDER again leaves us (with another quality recording to its discography) on a high with an album that collects the best elements of their past but also giving a giant leap forward in terms of the development of their sound. We hope that all those who have missed the band during these years of fallow respond properly and this will allow us to have this band for a while. They deserve it! And we also!
(J). Jose Jimenez - JJoseJimenezRafaBasa. com - Twitter. Com
Album: REGENERATION
From The Power Rock Shop
http://www.tprs.com/music-reviews/easy-rider-regeneration
For their latest release, Easy Rider has recruited an American vocalist by the name of Ron Finn. Finn's vocals follow in the Bruce Dickinson / Michael Kiske territory and are quite complimentary with the Spanish power metal quartet.
Musically, Easy Rider compares favorably with Bruce Dickinson's solo efforts such as "Chemical Wedding" and "Accident Of Birth" which is most evident of the track "Chariots Of The Gods". "Eyes That Can't See" is a killer track with its straight-ahead power metal riffs. The mellow "Spectre Of Sorrow" adds a softer texture with its fine instrumentation. For sheer aggressive power, "Stranger" wonders into Primal Fear territory.
Rafa Diaz's drumming on "Goliath" steals the show as the song has the complexity of mid 80's Queensryche. "Man Made Martyr" would appeal to fans of Nevermore with Finn's vocals heading into Warrel Dane territory.
After several listens, "Regeneration" grows on you to the point of becoming a rather impressive disc that stands out on its own merits.
From The Metal Observer
http://www.metal-observer.com/articles.php?lid=1&sid=1&id=1122
Man, these Spaniards have changed! New vocalist - Ron Finn, Ex-MACE, an American, kinda brokered by Chris Caffery (SAVATAGE). And also soundwise, a lot more straighter, sounding like finest US-Power Metal with some slight progressive elements, but that great!
Already the duo of "Regeneration" and "Stranger" (which is a re-release of an older song) sweeps through the speakers like a freshly born tornado, powerful (vocally as musically), a damn tight rhythm-section, very good riffing, just great stuff and also the following "World Is Coming Down" is absolutely convincing, the comparison with VICIOUS RUMORS definitely can not be put aside and that is good!
The Gentlemen (Javier) Villanueva and Castellanos are producing lots of very good riffs and hooks and Finn's voice perfectly suits the crunchy sound of the Iberians, the already mentioned rhythm-section is driving everything forward perfectly. So is everything gold? No, not completely, because one or two songs can be found that cannot keep up that level, but still they are far from being fillers. Oh yes, on "Freedom Fighter", which rises in heaviness and speed, Jean Michel Jarre- and ELEGY-axeman Patrick Rondat added a solo.
A surprisingly strong sign of life from Spain, which every genre-fan should have heard, that the CD will then change owner is definitely not to be ruled out! (Online July 30, 2002)
From Power Metal
http://powermetal.de/review/review-Easy_Rider/Regeneration,1602.html
Ziemlich fix legen die Spanier den Nachfolger des gutklassigen "Evilution"-Albums nach, welches schon mit amerikanisch tönendem, leicht progressiven Power-Metal zu gefallen wusste. Und eines vorweg: "Regeneration" ist ein weiterer Schritt nach vorn.
Das Material ist kräftiger, variabler, geht stellenweise flott in die Gehörgänge, hat erstklassige Hooks und wird zudem von der kräftigen Stimme des neuen Fronters Ron Finn (Ex-MACE) kompetent vertont. Durch diesen verlieren die Iberer zwar ihren Exotenbonus, da Ron waschechter Ami ist und von niemand geringeren als Chriss Caffery (SAVATAGE) vermittelt wurde, aber auf den Bonus können sie aufgrund der Qualität ihrer Mucke auch verzichten.
Um sich von dieser zu überzeugen, ist vor allem das famose Eröffnungsdoppel "Regeneration"/"Stranger" geeignet, welches wuchtig durch die Boxen donnert, mit tollen Leads und cleveren Arrangements glänzt, sowie von exzellenter Vokalakrobatik lebt. Der Sound erinnert dabei nicht selten - und vor allem nicht unangenehm - an VICIOUS RUMORS mit einer leicht frickeligeren Saitenfraktion, für die sich Javier Villanueva und Daniel Castellanos verantwortlich zeichnen und so dem Quintett eine eigene Identität wahren lässt. Doch auch das druckvolle Rhythmusgerüst von Rafa Diaz (dr.) und Jose Villaneuva (b.) trägt seinen Teil dazu bei. Hört einfach mal das coole "Spectre Of Sorrow". Und die wenigen ruhigen Töne können ebenfalls überzeugen. Das schöne, halbballadeske, sich steigernde "Freedom Fighter" kommt mit schönen Akustikgitarren und großen Gesangslinien daher und wird zudem veredelt von einem Solo des Gastsaitenhexers Patrick Rondat, der sich schon bei ELEGY und JEAN MICHEL JARRE seine Lorbeeren einheimste.
Zwar gibt es über die Distanz von knapp 57 Minuten auch den ein oder anderen qualitativ leicht abfallenden Song zu verzeichnen (z.B. "Nightmare"), doch wirklich schwache Nummern gibt es nicht. Von daher kann hier jeder, der auf Power-Metal mit leichter progressiver Schlagseite steht, bedenkenlos zwei Lauscher reinstecken und über einen Kauf entscheiden.
Anspieltipps: Regeneration, Stranger, Freedom Fighter
Ziemlich fix legen die Spanier den Nachfolger des gutklassigen "Evilution"-Albums nach, welches schon mit amerikanisch tönendem, leicht progressiven Power-Metal zu gefallen wusste. Und eines vorweg: "Regeneration" ist ein weiterer Schritt nach vorn.
Das Material ist kräftiger, variabler, geht stellenweise flott in die Gehörgänge, hat erstklassige Hooks und wird zudem von der kräftigen Stimme des neuen Fronters Ron Finn (Ex-MACE) kompetent vertont. Durch diesen verlieren die Iberer zwar ihren Exotenbonus, da Ron waschechter Ami ist und von niemand geringeren als Chriss Caffery (SAVATAGE) vermittelt wurde, aber auf den Bonus können sie aufgrund der Qualität ihrer Mucke auch verzichten.
Um sich von dieser zu überzeugen, ist vor allem das famose Eröffnungsdoppel "Regeneration"/"Stranger" geeignet, welches wuchtig durch die Boxen donnert, mit tollen Leads und cleveren Arrangements glänzt, sowie von exzellenter Vokalakrobatik lebt. Der Sound erinnert dabei nicht selten - und vor allem nicht unangenehm - an VICIOUS RUMORS mit einer leicht frickeligeren Saitenfraktion, für die sich Javier Villanueva und Daniel Castellanos verantwortlich zeichnen und so dem Quintett eine eigene Identität wahren lässt. Doch auch das druckvolle Rhythmusgerüst von Rafa Diaz (dr.) und Jose Villaneuva (b.) trägt seinen Teil dazu bei. Hört einfach mal das coole "Spectre Of Sorrow". Und die wenigen ruhigen Töne können ebenfalls überzeugen. Das schöne, halbballadeske, sich steigernde "Freedom Fighter" kommt mit schönen Akustikgitarren und großen Gesangslinien daher und wird zudem veredelt von einem Solo des Gastsaitenhexers Patrick Rondat, der sich schon bei ELEGY und JEAN MICHEL JARRE seine Lorbeeren einheimste.
Zwar gibt es über die Distanz von knapp 57 Minuten auch den ein oder anderen qualitativ leicht abfallenden Song zu verzeichnen (z.B. "Nightmare"), doch wirklich schwache Nummern gibt es nicht. Von daher kann hier jeder, der auf Power-Metal mit leichter progressiver Schlagseite steht, bedenkenlos zwei Lauscher reinstecken und über einen Kauf entscheiden.
Anspieltipps: Regeneration, Stranger, Freedom Fighter