Pop Evil - “War of Angels” Record Label: Universal Republic Reviewed by: Heidi Ohmer
High energy. Kick ass music. Unavoidable urges to move. This all describes the band Pop Evil’s introductory album .The band definitely raises the bar on the heavy scale while still staying true to their original sound with their upcoming release War of Angels, which is scheduled to be released February 8th. Being a fan of the band’s previous album Lipstick on a Mirror, it’s safe to say the new direction of the band’s sound is exactly what they needed. The album starts with a bang with the CD’s first single “Last Man Standing.” The song starts of with an in your face guitar riff that is quickly joined with lead singer Leigh Kakaty’s melodic grungy voice that causes almost an aggressive ecstasy. The hostile tendencies stick throughout the entire song and rolls into the next track, “Epitaph”, which begins with another thrashing guitar riff. This confident song delivers the same attitude as the opening track that may leave listeners feeling indestructible. Musically speaking, the heaviness gets even more intense with chugging break downs and screeching guitar solos that eventually lead to a breathtaking melting closure. Don’t worry “100 in a 55” fans, the upcoming tracks are exactly what you’ve been waiting for. Songs “Broken and Betrayed,” “Monster You Made,” and “Let it Out” are all mirror images of the previous album which were established with melodic guitar licks and soothing vocals. Moving onward, “Black and Blue” is a powerful sequel that intermixes the opening tracks. Starting off slow and mysterious, it comes almost as a shock when heavier than usual guitar riffs come screaming at you that eventually transition into the chorus. The blast from the past chorus quickly turns into the new atomic sound once again. Mid song, a breathtaking breakdown is included that proves to the most critical ears that this band creates incredible songs that will hook anyone who is listening. Concluding the CD with an acoustic version of “Monster You Made” was honestly a bold move. Even though some fans may argue this album should have more variety, Pop Evil has once again composed a solid album.
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PRESS PLAY MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2011