chest rockwell - 6ix

Chest Rockwell

6ix
self-released; 2014

3.6 out of 5

By Ted Rogen

Chest Rockwell started in 2004 and since then has released three albums, two EP’s and couple of other smaller releases. Most recently they released 6ix, which is a short yet powerful three-song EP. The EP essentially combines math-rock, post-rock and hard rock. You can hear parts that remind you of Godspeed You! Black Emperor while other times I was thinking that they sounded like Yes and even Queens Of The Stone Age. Anyway you slice it the band is a tightly formed unit of musicians who have some talent when it comes to rocking out. On top of that the production and mixes sound top-notch.

The EP starts off with “Projector 7,” which is a fairly straightforward but enjoyable hard rock song. Right from the start the band brings a heavy dose of energy. The drums are explosive and the guitars are smothered in distortion as the vocalist sings from the pit of his stomach. As the song progresses the band starts to flex their muscles. They introduce intricate timings and some impressive lead guitar. “Projector 7” is the song on the EP that would the most commercially viable while “Protozoan” is more likely to be enjoyed by those with a broader musical appreciation.

“Protozoan” is six minutes long and crams in a lot of changes within that time frame. The song starts off with a jagged bass and guitar line that quickly goes into an organ-fueled rock opera. It builds with intensity and that’s when it starts to get interesting. The band adapts, changes and isn't satisfied on staying on one riff for more than a couple of seconds. The song is definitely a ride worth taking that is best appreciated when you are being attentive to the subtleties.

The third song on the album is a remix by Stewie Tantrum of the first song “Projector 7.” It’s twice as long and resembles very little of the original. The song veers towards electronica as synths and a huge sounding house kit are introduced to the mix. 

6ix seems like it would be a good place to get started listening to the band Chest Rockwell. If you dig the music they have plenty of other material that you can explore.

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