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H R H - R E V I E W SPleasure
Maker
Comments:
Two laudable things are happening in music today: This isn’t something to scoff at. The reason the ’80s vibe still permeates hard rock/heavy metal’s landscape today is because back in the ’80s, there were guys like Yngwie Malmsteen and George Lynch. There was talent, not only to burn a wicked guitar solo but to write melodic riffs, catchy hooks, and overall, good compositions. Enter Pleasure Maker, a band from Rio De Janeiro. Founded by an unknown guitar wizard Alex Meister, this band has the chops and the sound to make a hell of a lot of noise on a global scale. Their sound is hard rock, with glimpses of metal, but melody is key in all that they do, be it a brief guitar blast or a raucous chorus. Love On The Rocks starts with an upbeat and simple rock tune, “Fast N Wild.” You’ll be introduced to C. Marshall, a singer with a bluesy and confident delivery. Albeit just a bit nasal, you’ll find yourself comparing him to singers like Danny Bowes from Thunder; Marshall has a smoother delivery though. When it’s time for the guitar solo, you may think you’ll get a nonsensical and brief plucking of the strings for six notes. Meister does the opposite, cleanly and expertly ripping through a contained, melodic solo that fits the song perfectly. The first song the band is pushing as a single is the catchy “Just Thinkin’ About You.” If you liked what bands like Danger Danger and Y&T did in the ’80s, this will bring you back. It doesn’t sound dated, though. It may tip its hat to the hair bands, but it could easily be played on the radio today. Marshall shines again as a vocalist, showing off his range without sounding strained. Meister puts a lot of modern guitarists to shame with his solo again — he is a real talent. The song ends with Meister unleashing a searing solo as the song fades out as well. “Hard 2 Say Goodbye,” slows things down, letting the band display another side to their sound. The focus is on Marshall again as he grooves through track, making you feel real emotion. The chorus is a bit simpler than the verses, but this is supposed to be a simple and catchy composition. Meister again plays understated lead guitar, culminating in a smart solo that is more feel than speed. How many popular new bands today have the balls to put a guitar solo on their album? Would Nickleback, Green Day, AFI, any of the 13 trillion emo bands dare? In a word … hell no. Pleasure Maker proves they are not just fun party music: Meister has a one-minute instrumental to reveal his chops. Instead of a neo-classical shredfest, he briefly plays a scale, building to a mind-numbing and crystal clear speed-freak solo. And they don’t dwell on it; the song builds into the next track expertly. Again, it makes sense, and it works. The ballad here is “Stay With Me,” a soft song with keys and haunting vocals from Marshall. You can tell that the emphasis for the band is also on the vocals, because the backing vocals are superior throughout, as on this tune. Meister throws in a few brief bursts between verses, keeping the energy going. Marshall uses this song to prove he’s a master of his instrument as well (voice). There are a lot of bands from yesteryear releasing new music and finding success, like Kick Axe and Tesla. Pleasure Maker is the bastard child of that era, putting their own slant on a form of music that brings together generations of headbangers. You need to check out Love On The Rocks for yourself. Track
listing: HRH Rating: 8.1/10
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