Reviews
Shotgun Opera – I’m In Your House
Shotgun Opera is not your typical Augusta band. Sure you may be asking yourself “what exactly IS a typical Augusta band?” Fair enough but whatever the answer may be, it certainly isn’t Shotgun Opera.
Imagine three very vocal men who look like they would be more comfortable in a steel cage wrestling match than on a rock stage. Throw in a three other smaller frenetic guys wielding rock instruments of mass destruction and immediately you grasp for something to attempt and compare it to. Well stop trying to make comparisons. We already told you that Shotgun Opera is not your typical Augusta band!
The visual creation of co-lead vocalist Grizzly (yes you heard right – GRIZZLY) Shotgun Opera has only been on the scene a mere four months and already have played a bunch of blistering shows and recorded and released one mutha of an EP. Sure it’s only five songs but in this case maybe five is just the right amount to keep mere mortals from getting hurt.
Starting off with the crunch of “Blinded” Grizzly and his co-vocal conspirator Samoa J weave around each other leaving just enough room for background vocalist/DJ Guapo to throw in a growl of his own here and there. But this is not that cookie monster stuff that warrants lyric sheets, these guys have got the pipes, the vocal goods if you will.
“Suffering” begins a subtle, hauntingly beautiful way before exploding into a heaviness befitting of the title. It is the ability to flirt with melody and power delivered by guitarist Samrock, bassist Turbo and drummer Cappy that completes the Shotgun Opera sound.
If there is one track that appears to showcase the individual talents of the six madmen in Shotgun Opera it would have to be the track “Righteous Man”. Starting off and infiltrated with Samuel Jackson verbiage ala Pulp Fiction, this track not only rocks but is sorta of fun in a weird sick kind of way. Nothing like hearing a big black guy hit a falsetto while beating his chest. (Well unless you’re thinking Ivan Neville crooning along with Linda Rondstadt)
Just when I think I have Shotgun Opera all figured out they unleash “What’s Forever” on me. Was I expecting a smooth soulful vocal beginning? Not at all but perhaps that was the idea all along because once Samoa J’s vocals suck you in, you get tossed around pretty fast. Perhaps the stand out track on this CD but then again that’s just one dudes opinion. You’re libel to disagree. Hey you have the choice to leave a comment right!
Sadly before you know it the final track “Razorblade” chugs in and begins the final drop to metal oblivion. Fast paced, it’s easy to understand why the guys chose this as the closing track. It even has a sort of finality feel to it. Kind of like struggling to stay out of plunging into a black hole. Eerie but effective.
Shotgun Opera have only had the time to offer up a mere hint of what their six combined minds have to offer. For fans of heavy melodic rock and metal Shotgun Opera is possibly the new band you’ve been waiting for. But don’t take this silly reviewer’s word for it, go to the bands myspace www.myspace.com/shotgunopera1 and listen for yourself or even better: take a chance and see these guys live. They might hunt you down otherwise.
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Wow! Thanks for the great review! Oh, and a minor correction.. The last track is called “Razorblade”, not switchblade!
I <3 Shotgun Opera
By the way, Nick @ Sector 7G did a great job recording and mastering this EP!!!!
Switchblade, Razorblade, they’re both cutting utencils.
I <3 Shotgun Opera and its amazing members.
Plus the guy (Nick Laws) who recorded and mastered the EP is my “dad”