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

Rivers For Eli - Dont Turn Back

10/23/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Rivers For Eli

Dont Turn Back
self-released; 2015

3.4 out of 5

​By Ted Rogen

It’s 1982 and the setting is an arcade in a suburban town. A kid named Harry finds himself in the arcade that was modeled after ‘80s movies. After that, stuff happens. That's the basic premise of the punk inspired rock opera entitled Don’t Turn Back by Rivers For Eli.

I’ll be honest, I listened to this album a number of times and the story is vague at best. I guess that’s fine but I was hoping for a little bit more of an arch. There are a couple things Rivers For Eli might want to do so their audience knows that this is a concept album. They might want to mention that on their Bandcamp page so people will actively listen to the lyrics. On top of that they may want to add the lyrics as well because I for one had a hard time understanding what was being said at least fifty percent of the time. 

Rivers from Eli is a three-piece band comprised of Steve Balletto, Billy Otto and Rich Suzano. The band is bit scattered in terms of style but mostly falls under the umbrella of punk. I thought the band sounded their best when they went for the fast BPM, NOFX and Rancid type style with lots of vocal harmonies and chord changes. 

The music is pretty tight ninety-eight percent of the time but there are a couple of transitions that were a bit sloppy. Overall, it is something most people won’t notice. I think it's fair to say people will have an ambivalent relationship with the vocalist. He has a high pitched, nasally voice that almost feels hyperbolic and doesn’t always stay in key. His performances were varied from song to song. 

After a short forty-two second intro the band launches into on the highlights of the album entitled “Night Driver.” This is really the style the band excels in and should continue to explore. It’s fast, raucous and fun. The blistering fast guitar solo was good and the vocal harmonies were an integral component that the band should implement as often as they can. 

The next track falls in line more with ‘90s Green Day and contemporary pop punk than NOFX. It’s a bit slower and has less energy. “River Raid” is a solid song but further deviates in terms of style. The song starts with inventive guitar picking patterns, which is reminiscent of a band like Death Cab by Cutie. As the song progresses it gets more intense and even contains  moments where it sounds like metal. 

“Yars Revenge” is another highlight because it feeds their strengths, which is playing fast and implementing vocal harmonies. Good stuff. As the album progresses it really is a mixed bag of songs. “Berzerk” is an ambient, minimal piece that would have worked better if it were about thirty to sixty seconds long instead of over four minutes while “Riddle of the Sphinx” is another highlight, which contains a lot of energy.

At fourteen songs with the majority of the songs being over four-minutes long Don’t Turn Back almost feels like a double album. For a punk album, it’s an incredibly long journey. The album is far from perfect but gets it right when it sticks to an early ‘90s punk aesthetic.
Become A Fan
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

    March 2021
    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