Get ready for a good old-fashioned lesson in rock n’ roll from hybrid maestros in Fort Rooster’s self-titled album Fort Rooster. They use a dirty blend of classic rock to lay the foundation and then stack layers of progressive, metal and alternative funk on top like juicy cuts of bacon. The band members share the sound equally, finding great compromise in bringing the guitar, drums and bass to the forefront subtlety and appropriately. The vocals come and go with passion and intensity, entrances and exits punctuated by musical explosions and at times stylistic U-turns. These rockers aren’t afraid to show chops and have the skills to back up their solos and intermittent musical wanking. When a band brings such a high level of musical knowledge to a format like rock, the canvas is heavily pliable and very accepting. You can hear many different sides to Fort Rooster in just the first three songs. “Cadaver Dogs” sounds like Texicana blues at first before the guitar plunges into deeper overdrive and slams down on a fat riff with straight drums replacing a more Latin inflected beat. And as we go along, the guitar and drums sync up with quick rhythmic underpinnings like something out of Primus. And the following minutes are just time well spent forming a storm cloud to at last erupt in the closing minute. The riff takes off at 90mph and just rides it home with pounding drums and relentless awesome. You might ask yourself, “Is this the same band?” Damn straight it is. The groove and punk rock of “Saturday Morning” is catchy to say the least. The verses open up into bright alternative and then shake it off like T-Swift into a heaviness that becomes just second nature. It’s very important for bands to understand that style blending is an art and needs proper segue, taking into effect set up, tone, arch of musical direction and vocal diversity. Fort Rooster makes it very clear they have this under wraps especially on this track. “New Depression” starts out in a fittingly somber mood with the guitars dreary and clean, vocal harmonies hauntingly beautiful and very Alice in Chains. And then a fantastic interlude breaks free at around a minute and a half. The guitar pistons with reverb around a hard hitting half time chorus that showcases the vocalist’s range and gravely belt. It’s the most memorable moment of the album in my eyes.
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