6-15-06
By Ezra Waller
From the guitarmonies and galloping drums of the instrumental opener, it's apparent that Arapyma's music
is rooted in Adam Curry-era Headbanger's Ball. The nine tracks that follow are characterized by outstanding
individual contributions that add up to a visceral Punk-Metal blitz. Leading the charge, Rob Tewes fronts the band
with commanding, guttural intensity. His aggro lyrics are appropriately paired with delivery that recalls recent
Bruce Dickinson (scream-free) with a splash of Lemmy. Matt Taylor's lead guitar provides the second wave, brandishing
a refined style that dips heavily into both Blues and Neo-Classical territory, similar to the formula that has carried
Zakk Wylde's career into its third decade. The importance of Taylor's balance of technical prowess and tasteful playing
cannot be overstated, particularly on the tracks with shifting intensity, such as "Lining Your Pickets"
and "The So-Called Innocent." Bringing up the rear is the thundering third column of bassist Jonathan Powers and
drummer Mark Taylor. From the frenetic pace of "The Eye" and the Kill 'Em All-inspired "Caught" to the molasses grind
of "So Pure," the pair consistently provides a rock-solid platform from which Arapyma launches their ballistic assaults.
Finally, Chris Schmidt's crunchy production is the ideal conduit to get the band's blistering intent to the listener in
all its ear-shredding glory. But the most impressive aspect of Victory or Death is that it is melodic and accessible
enough to be enjoyed by an audience wider than fans of British Metal, who are obviously going to devour it. (EW)
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1-26-06
By Mike Breen
Local rockers Arapyma unveil their new CD, Victory or Death,
Saturday at Covington 's Mad Hatter. The CD release show also features performances from Gerald's Rainbow, Black Tractor and Dayton 's Once-ler. Showtime is 9:30 p.m. , and admission is $5. The show is open to those 18 and up.
Arapyma have elements of varying forms of hard and heavy Rock & Roll
in their music, which makes them either the kind of versatile band that could
fit easily on a wide range of bills and draw from a diverse pool of fans
or a pariah due to their aggressive eclecticism. Fans of brawny Hard Rock
who are not caught up in the genrefication of music will simply appreciate
Victory or Death for the creativity, solid performances and pure Rock power.
The band constructs a neck-snapping conglomeration of influences on the album,
from vintage wiedle-wiedle Metal (in the form of dual guitar
harmonies and shred-worthy solos) to gut-punch Punk (evident mostly in the
energy and the Clorox-gargled, yet impressively melodic, vocals) to more
modern adventures in Hard Rock. There's also an element of progressiveness
in the band's writing style, which brings together the winding, unpredictable
structuring of today's Prog Metal heroes with the epic-ness of yesteryear's
long-song purveyors (Maiden, et al).After a classic Metal intro, the album
thunders into "All For What," a volatile anti-hard-drug screed with trademark intensity, multi-faceted riff textures and a rousing chorus hook that has the hair-raising effect of an old Punk anthem. Elsewhere, "Lining Your Pockets" shows the band's wise use of space, with roomy chunking that allows the band to breath fire between the pulsating barrage, while "So Pure" dials
back the energy slightly but keeps the explosiveness on high for a ballad-esque
slow grind that wouldn't be out of place on commercial Rock radio. It's one
thing to have such contrasting influences; it's another to successfully reassemble
them into something melodically memorable, non-cheesily dynamic and consistently
compelling. Arapyma thrives in their exploratory habitat by not only never
wholly committing to one style over the other, but by doing so with a careful
eye on clever, impacting songwriting and craftsmanship. (myspace.com/arapyma)
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