Band's List Alternative Metal 81db Impressions

It's more than just a coincidence, that this is the 3rd Alternative Metal band from Italy, that I've checked out this year. It's a testimony to that nation's reputation for extraordinary style and good taste. 81db was founded in Florence, by guitarist Kostas Ladopoulos, in 2006. He is the main catalyst in this band of good chemistry, as he has been credited for writing almost all of the music, and most of the lyrics. Their 1st album, Evaluation, was released in 2009 with RNC Music from Milan. It fared well in both Italy and Greece.

In 2010, they toured Southern Europe, and the UK. Not only did they promote Evaluation, they also introduced a lot of new material, that they had been working on. After the UK leg of the tour, they flew to Radio Star Studios, in California. So that they could have experienced producer, Sylvia Massey (Johnny Cash, Tool), record this sophomore album. Afterward, the band had to choose from several label deals. They ultimately decided to sign with the UK label, Rising Records, so that they could get this album distributed worldwide.

Impressions starts with a 50 second intro, featuring synthesizer music, and a countdown that uses a seemingly illogical numerical sequence. Then the album blasts off with The Last Laugh and it's explosive Grunge melodies. Those actually sound like they were borrowed and modified from the classic Nirvana song, Smells Like Team Spirit. But The Last Laugh is played faster and heavier than anything in the Nirvana catalog, so I guess that it sounds more like post Grunge. The lyrics seem to be about plagiarizing songs, which is ironic in itself. The cussing in the lines like, "you can laugh motherfucker", also adds to the appeal of this already entertaining jam.

Welcome to a mad world of sudden mood swings. Where unassuming bubblegum bebop music (like Hoobastank or Skillet) explodes with much heavier surges of Alternative groove. Impressions is a complex album, that was composed of a multitude of ironic parts, which are arranged to obtain an optimal shock rock effect. Ladopoulos is an ethnic Greek and every so often he incorporates some hip melodies of Mediterranean folk music, that he expertly plays on a bouzouki. Which is an ancient style of a Greek stringed instrument, that is similar to a mandolin. From time to time they'll throw in some geeky experimental music, which sounds something like Mr Bungle.

Patience (track 7) starts with a short ditty played on a bouzouki, then it breaks out into a more explosive style of Alternative Metal, which is driven by a groovy bass rhythm. The madness of this song is punctuated by the versatile vocals of William Costello. His voice usually manifests as an Aaron Lewis (Staind) sound alike. But he reacts like a chameleon to the ever changing tempos and the subsequent mood swings of the music. He is able to suddenly adapt his vocal presentations to accommodate the polymorphic nature of this music, in the same way that Gavin Rossdale did with Bush on Sixteen Stone. I wouldn't be surprised if he had some acting experience.

This album is every bit as good as their debut album, Evaluation, and that's saying a lot. I bought both of them on I-tunes. The band shows more of their explosive side on Impressions. Sounding as energetic and trendy, as earlier music from The Offspring or some of the best songs from Staind. 81db needs to tour North America, because good Alternative Metal bands like this sell lots of records over here, and they also get plenty of FM radio airplay. The best way that I can describe their music to you, is to say that they sound like Serj Tankian meets Staind. It's not just a coincidence that their logo resembles a hard-on, this exciting approach to Alternative Metal should elicit the same response from the listener.