By: Dave 'Animal' Guzda
Chrome Over Brass | website | facebook | bandcamp |
Released on November 27, 2015 via Deathwish Inc.
Do you like drums? No, do you like them a lot? Rolling toms, driving beats, a perfectly placed cymbal accentuation? Was Animal always your favourite Muppet? Have you wondered what instrumental music written from the drummers point of view might sound like? If you are liking what you are reading and your ear leans toward metal and hard rock then I’ve stumbled upon something you may really enjoy!
I’m talking about the one man band, the multi-instrumentalist Alex Garcia-Rivera who plays under the band name Chrome Over Brass. Garcia-Rivera has an extensive resume of bands he has played with and numerous releases he has drummed on. Garcia-Rivera has moved beyond playing other people’s music to writing his own. The result of his efforts are encapsulated in his self-titled release. This album certainly exemplifies a grit and passion that he has developed for his craft. Alex took an exacting Do It Yourself approach to the album and the end result is quite an accomplishment. Garcia-Rivera recorded all the instrumentation in 100% analog all with single takes with NO digital editing. In this age of digitally manufactured music this is an impressive and refreshing feat that shouldn’t be overlooked.
So how does this translate to the music? I find it sounds remarkable. Each of the tight, full throttle tracks drop a full spectrum of shimmering hard edged rock. You’ll want to turn it up to hear how great the instruments actually sound without all the post-digital manipulation. Especially the thunderous drums! Post-rock fans will wonder what is going on when they see all the songs are under 4 minutes. There are no long builds, no complicated bridges, no long emotional breaks, no soft acoustic tangents… every tick of the clock has the petal down and the tempo is breakneck. Chrome Over Brass often feels like surgically cut chunks of the best sections of your favourite 80s metal tracks replayed by a drummer set on fire. Song after song the energy is intense and driven by drums that attack, clatter and pound with stunning precision and palpable groove. For a drummer, the guitar, bass and synth parts don’t slouch either. The instrumentation throughout the album is clever and captivating.
It is an album that is really easy to listen to in its entirely. The songs flow well together and there is no lapse in the high driving momentum. ‘Crush On The Derbyshire’ whirls with galloping guitar goodness and a generous helping of punctuating cymbals and rolling drums. Crushing indeed. There are also some seriously heavy grooves that get the head nodding. Tracks like ‘Here Come The Stukas’ and ‘Jeeps On Safari’ immediately come to mind. Alex also includes an electronic moog inspired jaunt called ‘Moogs For Moderns’. Drums dazzle above a deliciously deep bellow of oscillating synth. There really isn’t a pause for breath and no duds on this enjoyable debut.
Chrome Over Brass is an all consuming blast of energetic, focused instrumental music. The songs are succinct and satisfying. On this album drums are unapologetically front and center. Release your inner ‘Animal’ and give this album a listen!
