Insight & Critique
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact

Riff Through Time - Riff Through Time

5/2/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Riff Through Time

Riff Through Time
self-released; 2016

3.5 out of 5

By Jamie Funk
​
I’m not sure when Christian St-Hilaire aka Riff Through Time was born or what his top five favorite albums but I’m willing to bet most of his influences came out of the ‘80 and maybe some from the late ‘70s. 

The biggest give away is the lead guitar solos on his recent self-titled album Riff Through Time. Within the first minute of the title I started to have an idea of what I was in for. The tone of the guitar, the way he bends it. It’s that lead guitar that has a lot of origins in Pink Floyd and then taken and slightly manipulated by myriad of rock bands all throughout the ‘80s.

The lead guitar isn’t the only element that has an ‘80s vibe. “To Rock And To Roll” has an undeniable prog rock vibe that harks back to Rush and many other rock bands from that era. St-Hilaire follows a couple of familiar tropes such as when he sings “to rock / to rock / to roll” at the three-minute mark. “Go Easy On Me” has a slightly different vibe from the first two songs. Soft rock/pop is an appropriate label here. 

“Overdriven” is a high-energy rock song with a slew of power chord progression while “Caring About Your Love” is a fairly straightforward rock song. However on “For You” St-Hilaire breaks out an acoustic and pulls off a more nostalgic, emotionally resonant song. I really enjoyed his vocals on this song. His voice soars at points.

“Grey” also veers away from the rock sound that came before. He utilizes a couple synths, which give the song an atmospheric borderline new age vibe. After the three-minute mark the song picks up some energy and does rock a bit more while not losing the essence of the beginning of the track. “Get a Life” goes into metal territory. It reminded me of early Metallica. He closes with “The Child Inside” which is a grandiose song in the spirit of Queensryche.

St-Hilaire certainly plays with a lot of different ideas on this album. After the second half you can’t help but think it feels a bit scattered. The juxtaposition between a song like “Get a Life” and “For You” feels like two different bands. Even though Riff Through Time could be more cohesive as a whole the album is full of inspired moments. The production is exceptional and the songwriting is consistently solid if sometimes predictable.  

​Truth be told this music will resonate with most people above a certain age. This is not the type of music that millennials are jamming out to at the moment. Anyone above the age of 35 will most likely have a greater appreciation for the music on Riff Through Time. That being said if you are under 35 I encourage you to check this out anyway.
bandcamp

google play
Tweet
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

       Critique/insight

    We are dedicated to informing the public about the different types of independent  music that is available for your listening pleasure as well as giving the artist a professional critique from a seasoned music geek. We critique a wide variety of niche genres like experimental, IDM, electronic, ambient, shoegaze and much more.

    Tweets by divideanconqer
    Are you one of our faithful visitors who enjoys our website? Like us on Facebook


    Archives

    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

Company

About
Contributors

Newsletter

Newsletter
Book Your Band

© Divide and Conquer 2021. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact