Sophisticated rock forged with head-banging riffs, lyrics that speak to the masses and melodies that resonate in your soul. This depicts the elusive sound of Metro-Detroit’s up and coming band – Morrow’s Memory.
The band initiated as a musical void that needed to be filled. The journey started with bandmates Zach Novak (Drums) and Joe Wolford (Lead Guitar) seeking the finest musicians of greater Detroit. Over the course of six months, contact with over thirty local musicians and nearly a dozen auditions, as of late September of 2009, the ideal lineup was complete. Additional members included Tony Fitchett (Lead Vocals), Brian Sasanas (Vocals and Guitar), Scott Sarnia (Bass), and Mike Fritz (Keyboard).
On listening to the opening track, the first scenario that popped into my mind, was to invite my mom into the room and make her sit down and listen to “Eternal Rest”.
This opening track boasts a beautifully laid-back piano and string arrangement.
Problem was it lasted only 59 seconds, before Zach Novak started blasting his machine-gun pigskins in collaboration with Joe Wolford and Brian Sasanas on fire-charged guitars to ignite the track, “Abandoned”.
In the best tradition of Nickleback, Morrow’s Memory quickly show off their cutting-edge skills at creating radio ready rock. For those who don’t know what radio rock is, the explanation is quite simple and requires the elementary skill of turning a knob or fading a slider indicated as ‘volume’.
Radio rock, is pure authentic rock n’ roll like any other, except that when the volume slider is at 3, the music sits nicely in the background while you chat to your mom and listen to the lyrics.
And it all makes sense…
With the slider at 5 the furniture in the room vibrates ever so slightly and you get the urge to move to the rhythm and even sing along to the lyrics.
And it’s still all making sense…
With the slider at 9 the whole condo shakes and someone has already called the cops. Because you’re headbanging, wildly singing choruses, disregarding the lyrics and furiously mimicking wasted guitar heroes.
And now it’s really starting to make sense!
Seriously. Radio rock is a sound genre that has captured generations throughout the years. Made famous during the 80’s by such groups as Journey, Aerosmith, Boston, Kansas and Foreigner to name but a few.
Today you’ll hear Nickleback, Avenged Sevenfold, Hinder, Puddle Of Mudd and yes, even Morrow’s Memory, carry on this tradition of hard-rocking guitars, bomb-blasting drums and throaty lung-bursting vocals. All in midst of heart wrenching lyrics and sweet melodies.
The anti radio-rock purist’s – rant, rave and criticize, while the buying public continue filling up the coffers.
Just ask Nickleback, heavily criticized and even petitioned once. With over 50 million albums sold, they’re too busy spending their money on the next lap dancer or buying a new Maserati, than hearing snobs from the coasts jamble on about red state rock.
Morrow’s Memory are a talented, but relatively new band and would do well to take heed of the above-mentioned words as there are many invidious detractors out there .
When you get over the bombastic drum and bass rhythms, the gunfire guitar work, and Tony Fitchet’s bellowing choruses on “Abandoned” and “Taken”. You realize that this band ain’t ever going down without a fight. It’s a rallying cry that permeates much of the rest of the album. And that’s exactly what you need, to make it in rock n’ roll music.
On “Evolve” the band show they can stand shoulder to shoulder with the masters of rock. An epic anthem with spectacular dual rock guitars, rolling drums and a devastating lead solo.
Most rock bands of this genre normally survive or fall, on the one prime factor, that is more evident than anything else to fans. The lead vocals. On “Let You Down” Tony Fitchett passes the roaring test, as his voice delivers the power and range necessary to keep all ears promptly listening.
The mid-tempo power ballad “Behind Your Beauty” showcases Scott Sarnia’s tasteful and disciplined bass playing, while Joe Wolford continues to distribute brilliant flashes of his six string riffing.
“Fall In Line” and the closing track “Moving Forward” confirms that Mike Fritz exists in the mix and is no backliner. Even though at times the production favors the double guitar sound, upfront. Mike skillfully works his understated keyboard arrangements with the same deft swiftness that made Deep Purple’s Jon Lord a legend.
“Hero In The Dark” falls between the above-mentioned tracks. It brims with power chords, rapid tempo changes, shredding guitar solos, climax-reaching vocal choruses and oceans of synth strings. Morrow’s Memory, with the release of their debut album, “Moving Forward”, demonstrate that they can be sweet, ferocious and aggressive, as and when needed.
A tight powerhouse unit, who are not scared to manipulate successful rock clichés. They build verses with aggressive force, then rely on snug melodic choruses to capture and hypnotise their audiences with.
You might say that this has all been done before, but Morrow’s Memory do it just as well or even better than some of rock’s inflated masters out there right now.
Translated, this means; “Watch out rockers, we’re moving forward real fast!”
VISIT MORROW’S MEMORY HOMEPAGE
VISIT MORROW’S MEMORY ON FACEBOOK
CHECKOUT MORROW’S MEMORY PROMO VIDEO
