THE ROCKET DOLLS

Four years after the release of their 'Frame' EP, The Rocket Dolls have delivered their debut full-length, 'Eyes'. With vocalist/guitarist Nikki Smash stricken by various health issues during the past three years (described as "near-death experiences" on the press sheet), that explains the long gap between releases. And it's a welcome return for this most promising of bands, such is the strength of the material and its execution on 'Eyes'. Describing themselves as a "post grunge riff metal power trio", that's quite a mouthful, albeit an apposite label. It's where quasi-grunge meets groove-infused metal riffing, with a powerful delivery, and there are three of 'em. Simples. And it's the music's powerful delivery and inherent energy that makes 'Eyes' such an engaging listen. There's a lot of "fight" discernible in the songs and their execution, which I'm guessing is a direct corollary of Nikki's recent health scares (he contracted the e-coli virus and pneumonia while recovering from two operations for osteoarthritis). You can hear a distinctly tangible fighting spirit through his relentlessly impassioned delivery (save for a few mellower, more restrained moments such as on 'Burning Up the Skies'), which only serves to make more emphatic the already powerful and compelling inherence of the music. On par with the songs' evident vitality are their melodic impetus - cue hooks and anthemically underpinned sing-along choruses galore. The Rocket Dolls strike a wonderful balance between raw, powerful grit and melodically textured hues. In essence, this is music you can rock out to as much as belt out its infectiously addictive refrains. In short, 'Eyes' is a wildly entertaining slab of...well... post grunge riff metal.

LABEL:

FORMAT:

Self-released

Album

EYES

Review by Mark Holmes

RUNNING TIME:

40:27

RELEASE DATE:

21st July 2014

TRACK LISTING

1) Poisoned Speech
2) Can't Keep Him Down
3) Delirium (Reprise)
4) The Rope Pulls Sins
5) Burning Up the Skies
6) Eyes
7) Waste
8) I Can't Go Back
9) I'm Just Too Weak
10) Gotta Get a Grip
11) Across the Night

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

UK

"The Rocket Dolls strike a wonderful balance between raw, powerful grit and melodically textured hues. In essence, this is music you can rock out to as much as belt out its infectiously addictive refrains."