Sunday, February 18, 2018

CD Review: Pop Evil - Pop Evil



It has been a while since there has been a CD review here at The Rock And Roll Guru. There are several reasons for this, time being one of the biggest. But when a new Pop Evil record was announced, I knew that I had to write a review for this one. I have been with this band since their earliest days and they have been one of my favorites since the night I first learned of their existence. Hard working, dedicated, hit making machines that are constantly on tour, Pop Evil is one of the greatest modern rock bands around.  

I am certain I say this every time Pop Evil puts out a new album, but they just get better with each release. Pop Evil is the latest incarnation of greatness from this little band that could. The record is filled with uplifting messages of hope and peace and belief in yourself, something that is usually at the core of good hard rock records. It is why fans are so drawn to the music in the first place, it makes them believe that they can achieve anything. Pop Evil is at the forefront of that inspirational type of music and their self-titled release is further proof.

Pop Evil is the first album to be recorded with new drummer Hayley Cramer. Chachi Riot brought a crazy and intense drumming method to Pop Evil that was fun to watch live. When he announced his departure from the band it was a huge disappointment, but Cramer, an animal in her own right, has filled in nicely and won over fans. Her drumming style is different than Riot’s, but her timing and ability is just as grand. She has been a wonderful replacement. Cramer was a great find for Pop Evil and after being on the road with the band for a while, she got to show off her work in the studio setting with Pop Evil. The end result shows that she is a valuable asset to this band.

The first single from this album was the hard hitting “Waking Lions.” Filled with signature Pop Evil sounds and styles, “Waking Lions” is a fantastic song about awakening the beast within to overcome challenges and achieve all the dreams that are possible in life with hard work and perseverance. This is something that Pop Evil is familiar with. They are a band that has built an immense, devoted following based on the strength of their music and their endless touring.  They know how to awaken the beast within. “Waking Lions” shows the high end of lead singer Leigh Kakaty’s vocals which sound as majestic as ever. Kakaty’s voice is powerful on this track and makes the music soar.

I will admit that I do miss guitarist Tony Greve, but Nick Fueling is a master in his own right. He’s been with the band for as many years as Tony was and has now played on more albums than Greve. Nick’s style helped propel the band in directions they may not have otherwise gone in.  While Greve was more of a hard and heavy style of guitarist (in the vein of Pantera), Fueling is more of a modern rock guitarist ala Shinedown or Nickelback. Fueling’s style is a better fit for this incarnation of Pop Evil and since he joined the band they have gravitated toward that modern sound that will fill arenas with fans and win over newcomers.

Uplifting and inspiring, the track “Be Legendary” is destined to be another top 5 single for a band that is filled with them. This song could almost be a sequel to “Waking Lions.” “Be Legendary” contains positive messages of always giving only your best and pushing yourself to be a legend. It’s songs like this one that make Pop Evil such a fun and admirable band to listen to. They don’t wallow in self-pity or cry over life’s tragedies. Instead the band promotes ways to overcome hardship and inspire all to lift themselves up and achieve the best that they can. These themes started way back on War Of Angels and were fleshed out on the following releases. Pop Evil have gotten to the point where they have honed their skills in this type of songwriting and can really inspire not only the youth of today but those that are middle aged as well. We should all strive to be legendary indeed.

One of the most unique and innovative songs that Pop Evil has ever recorded is contained on this new release. “Nothing But Thieves” is a six-minute gem that works al different types of tones and musical styles not normally known in Pop Evil’s music. This branching out for the band was a bit of a risk, but one that worked well as “Nothing But Thieves” is probably the best song on Pop Evil and could be one of the best songs the band has ever recorded. It starts slowly with chimes and keyboards and then builds in intensity until exploding at the 2-minute mark proclaiming that we know what it’s like and we make mistakes in being right or wrong, branding ourselves nothing but thieves. “Nothing But Thieves” combines so much into one song which is what makes it so powerful. Fueling’s guitar solo at the end is magnificent and completes the song in a majestic way. After hearing “Nothing But Thieves” several times, it is my hope that the band will continue to experiment with their music in this direction. The payoff is well worth the risk.

God’s Dam harkens back to early Pop Evil with Kakaty’s voice sounding like it is 2007 all over again. The song reminds me of early, unreleased demo tracks that Pop Evil had recorded before Lipstick On The Mirror. As far as ballads go, this one is up there with some of the strongest that Pop Evil have recorded. Kakaty’s voice shines and the lyrics are some of the greatest the band has written. And while “God’s Dam” isn’t a true ballad in the sense of “Monster You Made,” or “100 In A 55,” it is still a beautiful piece of music that fans are going to be singing along with in concert as soon as the song is performed live.

Pop Evil has recorded another incredible album that fans are bound to love and newcomers should welcome with open arms. The band has a storied history for making hits and with Pop Evil there are more hits that can be added to their repertoire. Hard rocking and heavy as well as soft and sweet, Pop Evil hits all the right places for rock music lovers. It is an inspirational record that is as beautiful as it is uplifting. Pop Evil soars. At this point in their career no one really expected anything but greatness from the band and they delivered it once again.

Ryo’s Rating: 9 (out of 10)

Track Listing
Waking Lions
Colors Bleed
Ex Machina
Art Of War
Be Legendary
Nothing But Thieves
A Crime To Remember
God’s Dam
When We Were Young
Birds Of Prey
Rewind

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