| CD REVIEW The Rones |
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Band : The Rones Uh...original release in early 2008? Yeah, but in the meantime MTC Records started working with the Belgian division of Roadrunner - CNR, didn't they? And, probably because the end of the year is otherwize a calm period anyway, I'm now enabled to finally get a whiff of this very fine Belgian "Industrial Stoner Rock" band. Mine is not to reason why, especially not when I get an actual copy of the album in the deal. So, the history... Counting Queens Of The Stone Age and Nine Inch Nails as their prime influences, Beringen/ Leopoldsburg based quintet The Rones performed their very first show somewhere in late 2004, and the year after started gigging seriously, while also doin' the occasional band contest. In fact, they won local music contest Limbomania, in spite of a crowd that wasn't really taken with the jury panel's decision. Well, the band members not even having an average age of 20 at the time, they díd display a somewhat cocky attitude in those days...but the jury found they made up for that with their great drive, steadfast music choice, and potential talent. The talent was certainly spotted by local producer Luuk Cox (of Shameboy), and he took the guys to a studio to record their debut EP Nonsense & Crackwhores, released in early 2007. In spite of the band's musical nfluences at moments being prominently present, the EP got positive reviews, and after signing to MTC the guys (singer/ guitarist/ electronics handler Lenn Van Meeuwen, guitarists Ken Spranghers & Kris Verhelst, singer/ bassist Sam Kaerts, and drummer Sven Bloemen) returned to the studio with Cox to record this, their debut full-length. The 11 songs resulting from that session are simply delightful, and somewhat varied too. While you dó get a couple of songs in which the electronics are apparently completely absent (check the delightful album opener “Break To Hollow”, check the album title song), there's others in which the electronics are rather prominent (check the wacky “The Real End”, and my favourite, “Silence/ Violence”, which caught my attention from the moment go with its nice electronic intro, then with the great repetitive intertwining guitar melodies), and with album closer “Coqotte” you even get a delightful acoustic track. The songs in between all have sóme electronics to some degree (electronic percussion, synth sounds), which certainly make 'em more interesting. But then each and every song is composed of memorable riffs and melodies, blended together in a such way you'd swear to deal with a band into this for at least a decade! Oh, and it would appear that “In The Clear” guests Aaron Perrino of Dear Leaders as additional vocalist. If you never heard this band before, check out the 6 songs posted at myspace.com/therones, and discover why this band has already played supports to Scars On Broadway at Brussel's Ancienne Belgique, to Evanescence at Antwerp's Lotto Arena, to Nnick Oliveri & The Mondo Generator at Hasselt's Muziek-O-Droom (all rather important big venues in Belgium), and were billed at such festivals as Play!Festival, Boomtown, Pukkelpop, Dour Festival, and Rock Herk! Along the way they've exchanged Kaerts for singer/ bassist/ additional keyboardist Ozan Bozdag, and added one Marcus Deblaere as percussionist. At the moment they're working on a new album...which may be why they seem otherwize inactive. 5Ooh, by the way, a couple of extra songs not posted on the MySpacepage can be found on the band's facebook – look for link at (www.) therones.be). Eventually, I would like to award Sinner Songs with a (belated) place in my 2008 year-lists! 98/100 Tony. |
