BulletBoys kick off their latest release with a rather cool little number called ‘Apocalypto’ that starts out with a funky little verse and bursts into a fiery rocker with every chorus. It works well and is a nice way to start original album number eight.
Of course the BulletBoys have changed considerably since their original MTV days with only Marq Torien remaining from that classic line-up of Torien, Sweda, Vencent and D’Anda who blew into town like an updated version of Van Halen back in 1987. Now entering their 4th decade there’s still that spark here in places and to be honest I quite liked 2015’s ‘Elefanté’ and here ‘D-Evil’ keeps that funky thrust like Buckcherry doing their take on Extreme.
Elsewhere there’s a nice mix of styles that some might find inspired and others might accuse of being unfocused. One thing that hasn’t been lost over time though is that the funkier elements are still all there and still give the songs a certain lift.
Elsewhere it’s a mix but there’s a thoroughly modern rock leaning that starts with the title track, which to me sounds like a modern Foo Fighters outtake, and whilst I’ve nothing against the Foos it’s just not quite what I expected here. Similarly the slower number that follows ‘Hi-Fi Drive By’ isn’t a million miles from Matchbox 20, Third Eye Bind, 3 Doors down and their ilk. That in turn is followed by the acoustic and congo jumble and shuffle of ‘Losing End’ a light and mellow pop song,one of four here.
Deeper in ‘What Cha Don’t’ reintroduces the rock – opening up like a live set up for a crushing rocker – it’s a huge intro that suddenly shudders to a halt and you realise that that dynamic build up is actually bolted onto a rather prosaic power pop-rocker in the vein of so many others. It’s my biggest disappointment here, but the song itself isn’t bad at all, it just COULD have been huge.
The original ‘Get Ready’ is one of my favourite songs Motown songs and Torien does a wonderful rock take on The Temptations classic. It’s a rock make-over that manages to keep the real spirit of the song and I love it. You hear quite a few Soul and Rhythm and Blues covers where the guitars are just thrust in but these guys really hit the nail on the head.
Sadly ‘P.R.A.B.’ takes the wind right out of the sails for me, it has a funky thrust but the ‘digital/very light industrial’ sound isn’t something that sits well with me which is sad as it’s a perfectly good song with some great soulful vocals. In truth it does get better as it hits the breakdown even if the echo of Michael Jackson isn’t particularly warranted.
The step too far is the R’n’B of ‘Sucker Punch,’ though even that might resonate with those who can rub shoulders with the likes of Sugar Ray and Third Eye Blind. The rap though kills it dead for me and it’s that one moment here where I despair. Torien has been brave enough to incorporate a number of shades of Soul and Rhythm and Blues here that he surely realizes will put some straight hard rock reviewers offside
I love the gentle breezy acoustic ‘Switchblade Butterfly’ and the familiarity of the refrain, if only it had an upwards inflection, is still nagging at me. Great song tough and wonderfully simple. The more ‘constructed’ ballad that closes ‘Once Upon A Time’ though is pure pop balladry and sounds all a bit Taylor Swift to me. Not the best way to end after an album that seemingly seeks to challenge some. It’s one of only two songs here I don’t rate simply for its generic and uninspired nature.
This may not the BulletBoys that you remember but if you like a little Funk with your Rock and can handle the Soul this is a collection of great songs. I’ll leave it to you debate whether this should have been labelled BulletBoys or not…
Track List:
01. Apocalypto
02. D-Evil
03. From out of the Skies
04. Hi-Fi Drive By
05. Losing End Again
06. Whatcha Don’t
07. P.R.A.B.
08. Sucker Punch
09. Switchblade Butterfly
10. Once Upon A Time
Band Members:
Marq Torien – vocals, lead guitar
Nick Rozz – rhythm guitar
Chad MacDonald – bass
Anthony “Tiny” Buiso – drums
Band Websites:
Official Website
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