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Bands with a hard, grungy edge are so plentiful these days that it’s got to be
hard for them to stand out from the rest of the pack. Releasing an album of this
type of music independently has got to be even more difficult. Washington,
DC-based band Evenout seems to have figured out the secret formula, and that is
to just write good, melodic songs. Their latest release, Drown Inside, is
instantly addictive, and has the potential of mass appeal that can traverse
radio charts.
The opener, “Controller,” is a hard rock anthem of sorts, and immediately brings
to the forefront the stunning lead vocals of Maurice Magnum. The first single is
called “Look Back,” and is an angst-ridden track about doubting your own moves
over a period of time and looking back to see that you’ve only been standing
still. Musically, it’s the kind of song that has pop crossover appeal. “Save
Tomorrow” and “Fragile Page” also fit into that category, with innocent verses
and pissed off choruses.
The band also shows their acoustic side with the remaining tracks, starting with
the dissident but endearing “Waiting.” “Threw it Away,” while not exactly a
ballad, really shows off this band’s versatility because the song can stand up
in its simplest form. “Toxic” is another acoustic track that has a depressed,
Seattle grunge feel ala Stone Temple Pilots. The difference is you can actually
understand what Mangum is singing.
Evenout has performed with other melodic hard rock bands such as Fuel, Live and
the Cult, and has garnered a lot of regional radio airplay. That, along with a
fine independent release, makes them ripe for a major label signing. Stay tuned,
or pick this one up yourself to help their cause at
www.evenoutmusic.com.
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~Mike Farley
mfarley@bullz-eye.com
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