Silversage - the storm

Silversage

The Storm
self-released; 2014

3.5 out of 5

By Ted Rogen

It’s hard to beat a solid rock album that sounds like a rock album should. So you ask how should a rock album sound. It’s all about the energy. The guitars should have a meaty mid range, the snare should sound like a machine gun and above all else you need to have a powerful, visceral experience that leaves you thoroughly rocked. The Storm by Silversage while far from perfect contains these qualities. Silversage seems to yearn for success as all the styles they flirt with seem to permeate within Top 40 rock radio. Sometimes they have an epic rock Coldplay thing going on, then other times they infuse a southern style that reminded me of Kid Rock and even Nickelback. My favorite moments were when they sounded like an old school rock band who preferred a swig whiskey and then the moments where they sounded like a band that you would hear in the background while getting your coffee at Starbucks. 

The album kicks off with a certified rock song called “Time To Fly,” which can bear comparison to Foo Fighters. It packs a good amount of energy, has some attitude and even a sick guitar solo. The energy never lets up and I am pretty sure is a crowd favorite when they play live. 

“Hate To Say Goodbye” starts as a sentimental pop song that slowly mutates into rock. Once the drums and distortion enter it sounds similar to a ‘80s rock ballad. The band reaches for the heavens and goes epic. “Unwritten Song” is a single worthy song that has all the elements one looks for when browsing your local FM station. The lyrics deal with a ubiquitous theme that is wrapped around a palatable hook that feels familiar yet some can’t get enough of.  The closer “The Storm” was the highlight of the EP as it displayed the band incorporating a number of different styles. They throw in a tinge of funk and ‘90s rock. On top of that I thought the vocalist’s performance sounded the most natural and at its best here.

I would have liked to hear a bit more originality on The Storm but the band does have a number of inspired moments. The band at this point seems to be in their embryonic stage - still figuring out what defines their sound. If I was their manager I would say to veer towards the style that has more in common with classic rock and ‘90s rock rather than the overproduced “hard rock” bands of 2014.

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