Written
by Laura Dodero, posted by blog admin
Rejectionist
Front’s continuing ascent to the upper echelon of modern rock acts picks up
speed with their second album release Evolve. The four piece hasn’t been
together for very long in comparison to where they are in their development and
the exponential growth of their power and potential is a phenomenon they’ve
successfully parlayed into plum festival appearances as well as important
placements on high profile various artist releases as well as theatrical and
television programming. They are politically engaged, particularly lead singer
and songwriter Michael Perlman, but never in the quasi-evangelical way many
music listeners find repelling. The band’s songs are, in one overriding one,
about the challenges of being a human in an often inhumane world and their
second album Evolve features a dozen songs further establishing them as one of
the best hard rock acts achieving prominence today.
“Ride”
kicks off this full length album with resounding emotional and sonic force.
Michael Perlman is a singer who gives himself over to every track and manifests
his talents differently each time out. Guitarist Lincoln Prout and bassist Tony
Tino provide spot on backing vocals for this near anthemic number that makes it
doubly effective. “All I Am” dispenses with the quasi high flown style they
flirt with on the opener and instead take things in a more rough and ready,
straight hard rock direction while losing none of their apparent chops and
crisp attack. The sonic architecture of the album’s third song “Savior” is much
the same as the second, but the construction is even tighter here and the
chorus, in particular, is carried off exceptionally well.
Perlman’s
ability to bring a distinct character to each of Evolve’s twelve songs
continues to shine through on the track “All is the Same” and it previews a
pensive side to the band’s songwriting that they explore in later songs as
well. Perlman is, undoubtedly, the straw stirring the band’s drink in many
respects, thanks to his aforementioned qualities and the way he handles the
lyrical content, but guitarist Lincoln Prout demonstrates a similar
chameleon-like talent for adapting his guitar sound as needed. The contrast of
Perlman’s near bluesy growl and accompanying guitar jangle opening the song “Reclaim”
soon transforms into one of the band’s more rousing numbers and a definite
highlight of the release. There’s a more menacing quality conveyed by the song “Innocent”
and the claustrophobic bite heard in some of Lincoln Prout’s guitar playing,
likewise, ranks among the musical highlights of Evolve and their continued
strength in building hard hitting choruses and instrumental breaks continues to
serve them well. The finale, “Inside of Me”, is naturally one of the album’s more
inward looking efforts, but Rejectionist Front’s songwriting is such that even
the personal finds an universal resonance – as it should. This New York City
four piece has passion to burn, but Evolve makes it abundantly clear they are a
band of the world as well.
