THE GROUND SHAKER “Rogue Asylum”

Fastball Music, 2023

Music: Rock
Website: https://thegroundshaker.com
Duration: 45:02 (13 tracks)
Country: Switzerland

My first contact with THE GROUND SHAKER was when I had watched the music video “88 Strong as a Lion”. The music video itself didn’t blow me away, but I understand the message and why the band decided to go this way. But the music – oh my! I thought that if the whole album is like this, it will definitely go to my shelf.

Let’s start with the thing that attracts the most attention. That thing is the sound. It is supposed to attract attention with a high volume level and give the impression of being powerful. Individual instruments stick together in a “wall of sound”, which hits with full force from the first riff on the album. The band has invested in the production. I liked the graphics on the album – it is simple looking, but with taste.

Musically, we have a modern approach to rock here. The songs are based on rhythmic riffs. The timbre of the vocalist fits perfectly with the music. He can sing a verse energetically, then switch to a softer tone in the chorus. This is undoubtedly a strong point of the band. The guitars are heavy, but not too heavy – enough to keep the rocking rhythm, but not to enter the metal regions. The compositions are short. Almost all of them are less than 4 minutes long.

Now, purely subjectively, about listening impressions. The album starts with a short (2:21) single that I’ve already heard – 10/10 for me. The sound reminds me of the Finnish MANNHAI band from the album “Hellroad Caravan”. The melodies, despite the high dose of energy in the background, are rather sad and nostalgic. The vocal climate reminds me of SENTENCED style. A combination so unobvious and accurate that they got me.

Then we have “Mask of Insanity” – an acoustic introduction, followed by a great groove. Perfect music for the car – windows shake and old women with bags run away from pedestrian crossings. This is another successful single.

“A world which only I can see” greets us with another powerful riff and then goes into a very contrasting chorus. Artists play with convention and it’s interesting, but for me, only for the first time. In the long run, I did not become a fan of the chorus of this song.

“I wonder why” climatically fits into the American punk rock ballads of bands such as BLINK 182. Some may like the song. It’s an interesting variety, but it’s a bit out of my yard, so let’s move on.

And next? I usually start to lose my concentration on the music. Why?

I think there are two reasons. The first is the similarity in the recipe for the songs. Short forms in which the music has no chance to develop. There are a lot of songs, but often “less is more”. The band, despite the “flashes” in the form of catchy riffs, does not surprise with anything anymore. Interestingly, the individual tracks are not bad at all. They are solidly composed, their performance is correct – everything seems to be in order. Unfortunately, there is no element of surprise on the album, something that you would like to jump to just to listen to it.

The second reason is more paradoxical. I praised the sound in the beginning, didn’t I? The songs sound as if someone pasted them in this powerful template, so there is nothing characteristic about them, and in the long run this polished sound is tiring.

If I had to rate this release based on the singles, it would be a solid 8/10. I was bought by a fresh approach to composition and great sound. Unfortunately, the invention was enough only for the beginning of the album. My final rating is 5/10, which is a shame.

Tracklist:
1. 88 Strong as a Lion
2. Mask of Insanity
3. A world which only I can see
4. I wonder why
5. Dragon in the Sky
7. Ride on Me
8. Demons in my Dreams
9. Onna Bugeisha
10. Eternal Cycle
11. Lone Wolf
12. Out of Silence
13. Day of Sin

Line-up:
Giro Reign – guitars, vocals
Dave Elgin – guitars
Ram Vortex – bass
Ducor’s Bat – drums

Rate: 5.0/10