Reach 454 Reach 454
By
Mick Stingley,
Contributor
Thursday, July 24, 2003 @ 12:26 AM
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Above-average nu-rock with something of a nod to Biohazard,
the self-titled effort from Reach 454 boasts a few good heavy tunes,
which manage to save it from being run-of-the-mill fodder for the “99X”
chain.
Good production by Jay Baumgartner (who’s fast becoming the ‘Tom Werman’
of the post-Millennium) helps make for a fairly enjoyable listen. The album’s lead track,
“New Scar (Won’t Be Like You),” among others herein, could come right off New World Disorder… and there’s nothing wrong with that.
While it certainly doesn’t hurt having Jacoby Shaddix of Papa Roach appear (“Come Apart”), the disc is mercifully free of the ‘au courant’ rap-style that weighs down so many bands. There are, however, some occasional forays into adolescent rage-tinted lyrics… but, that aside: these guys are clever, the vocals strong without being “whiny,” the guitars clean and heavy, and as such, they have some decent potential to break-out and maybe do more in the future. Ask your nephew -- see what he thinks.
Stand-outs include: “New Scar,” “California,” “6YRS” and “The Enemy.”
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