| CD REVIEW Radio Infinity |
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Band : Radio Infinity This Hasselt based Belgian band sure took its time to get their third album out...oh well, maybe it only seems that way. Having released their self-titled album in 2007, they issued their sophomore Derail To Innovate in April 2008, sent it to us two months later, so yours truly could have the review posted on 20/06/2008 (for a history of the band, check out that review – one mistake I made there: drummer Gunther Liket was not the original skin-basher, as he replaced Yves Staeren), so...no, actually the guys díd take some time getting their third album out! But time was not unduly spent! For starters, the trio has now grown to a quartet with the addition of (second) guitarist Koen Brouwers (I'm sure it took some time to get him acquainted with the live staples the band already has from their two previous albums, then the guys probably also had to re-arrange those songs to fit him in), and the band also caught the attention of (relatively young) label MTC Records (and I'm sure signing the deal with those took some time, as the people involved are rather quite thorough). So, with an additional musician in the band, IS there a lot of change in the sound? Nah! This is still very much the band we know from their previous outlet: freakishly calm played Rock with a Stoner Rock fringe, catchy vocals with a tragic and threatening edge, and the (very) occasional synth addition. I mean, it's not like because the guys signed to a bigger label that they changed their attitude to recording, you know: the material was still recorded at the band's own Infinity Studios, without the help of any fancy producer or any hired additional musicians! Also, the guys didn't go for any more complex structures just because they have an extra guitarist now (well, okay...sóme songs would be impossible to play live with just one guitarist, perhaps, take the somewhat more energetic “In The Dead Of Night” and “How Will I Know”, for instance, with its clear rhythm and lead guitar contributions), and I'm guessing the additional guitarist is mainly meant to give frontman Ben Wyers the occasion to concentrate a bit more on his vocals during performances(?). Anyway, anyone having already come in contact with the band's material on a previous occasion, and liking what (s)he heard, can just simply jump onto the occasion to get him/herself a classy album for his/her collection...because classy this album certainly is! Those into Stoner with some occasionally weird lyrics (I mean, there's really some disturbed – you know, the psychologically disturbed kind – stuff here), and nót having heard this band's music yet (hey, even in a little country like Belgium, that is not an unthinkable thing to happen, and it's certainly not a thing to be ashamed of, when even I hadn't heard about the band before coming across 'em thanks to this website) should definitely listen to the songs posted at myspace.com/radioinfinity. I hope you like as much as I do! I mean, juts like its predecessor, I'm nominating Above The Radar into my year-lists...that's how much I like!!! 98/100 Tony. |