Somewhere in time exists the suburban bedroom of a shaggy haired 17 year old in a Rush t-shirt, ears adorned with bulky dome-shaped headphones, eyes closed and listening with equal parts angst and bliss while the hard rock icons immortalized on glossy pages torn out of rock magazines stare back at him – Ronnie James Dio, Ritchie Blackmore, and Ozzy Osbourne give their silent scream of approval.
Forward in time, another youth, ear-budded with the “shuffle” toggle locked, regards the purveyors of his life’s soundtrack on the bedroom walls – the Foo Fighters, Soundgarden, even Mastodon makes an appearance. He wipes his brow with the shoulder of his Wolfmother t-shirt, certain that he’ll never get enough of what the rock gods have to offer.
In Twilight Zone fashion, the rooms exist on opposite ends of time and space.
But in the cosmic hallway that connects the two resides The Many Colored Death.
“Lush guitars, a pounding rhythm section, and soaring vocals permeate the release, showcasing the band’s ability to meld their influences into a sound all their own.” RJ Frometa, Vents Magazine
Our Own Devices gives you plenty to explore, plenty to feel, plenty to anticipate. Fade Away truly sets the tone for this ride, satisfying but with the pledge of a few curveballs coming your way. Go ahead, let them smack you in the face. That way you’re ready for the rest of what this power trio throws at you.
That 70’s rock, vintage-y sound sticks around for the whole record but it gets the heaviest of injections of MCD’s original freshness. Standout examples include Fade Away, The Spider, and, with its major scope, Legerdemain.
You’ll be innocently head-banging along to some good ol’ (but still masterful) hook-heavy rock, when later tracks (Repeating, Beating Heart, The Seraph, Bam) remind you those arena-ready tunes are coursing, pulsing along a progressive rock/metal backdrop, with chords as vivid as brushstrokes laid down within the boundaries of funky time signatures, stippled with syncopation on a painted mural. The perfect collision of hooks and dexterity prevails on “To Fly.”
With the aforementioned rhythm section (drummer Shea Spence has been nicknamed “The Thundercat” and when bassist Preston Rogers gets the opportunity to shine, he manhandles it), fuzzy yet searing guitar, and need-to-hear-them-to-believe-them vocals from Brent Moore (which have been compared to the likes of Chris Cornell, Robert Plant, and King Buzzo), I won’t deny that while I am enamored with this disc, I cannot wait to see this band live – tracks like Rats, Inside, and Hopeless Destiny demand a ready and indefatigable audience.
The band’s energy is only just contained on the record – I believe on stage, it will erupt and spew forth embers and stardust, halos and pitchforks. On Our Own Devices, The Many Colored Death creates a sound that clashes and blends, pushes and pulls, but never, ever lets go.
The Many Colored Death-Preston Rodgers, Brent Moore & Shea Spence
Our Own Devices is available online at the following locations:
The best place to get the CD? Go to a show and buy it from the band!
About Jaye Moore
FOLLOW UP: I attended the Friday, May 23 at The Bridge show featuring Soundtrapp, Madora (more on these guys in a future post), and headlined by the Many Colored Death. I was NOT disappointed. MCD is tight, tight, tight and their set was a total joyride. This band is all about the music, which they have honed like mad. Their no-frills approach IS the thrill – Shea Spence dominates her drums with equal parts focus and fire, and we are all better people for seeing it; bassist Preston Rodgers is the picture of pure, undebased fun while he drives the intense sound; and the voice coming out of Brent Moore’s unpretentious presence is as immense as his effortless lead guitar.
MCD knows what they’re doing – they put together a set that took you there and back again. I was skeptical when one of my favorites, Legerdemain, showed up in the third slot (“It’s too early! This song is too huge!”), but any anxiety was cured as we went up and down and all around. There were standouts from Our Own Devices (“Someone You Can Love” and “The Spider” took on a whole new life on stage, and “Rats” was every bit the crowd-pleaser it promised), as well as previous fan favorites “Duchess”, “This Curse”, and the wicked “Charlie and the Demon Slayer.”
If you hear these guys are playing out, go see them. It’s loud and fun, it’s savvy and brilliant. It’s ROCK.
Boy am I glad Jaye was at that show to put into words what I know the rest of the crowd (including Nick & me) were feeling (not thinking – FEELING!). I’m really looking forward to her review of Madora’s live show the same night.
Thanks Jaye! Was great to meet you and we’re happy to hear the live experience lived up to the album performances! Hope to see you again soon.