Run Amok - Colossus

Run Amok

Colossus
self-released; 2015

3.6 out of 5

By Andrew Westberry

Run Amok, a three-membered band from San Francisco, California, recently released their first album Colossus after taking a hiatus to fine tune their sound. Sonically diverse, the album spans the range of styles from hard rock to metal in a refreshingly creative fashion.

The first thing that stands out about the band is the sheer amount of sound that the three members, Alexis Blair, Matt Morales and Sal Ferrari, collectively produce. “A Private Little War” and “Devil in the Dark” introduce listeners to the ultra-full soundscape that gives the band a solid foundation upon which they can build lyrically and vocally.

“Paradise” is arguably the best track on the album with its catchy, upbeat riffs and balance between power and brightness making for an intriguing listen. The opening percussion in “Arena” gradually builds throughout the song, while syncopated lyrics and riffs fill in the gaps in a stylistic manner.

Short and sweet, “I Don’t Care”, “Lazers” and “With You (Tonight)” both come in at under three minutes. Evidently, Run Amok knows how far to take certain musical ideas, and when the idea has come to a close in a song, they don’t force an unnecessary lengthening of the song and subsequently run the idea into the ground. This portrays serious maturity and wisdom in the band’s songwriting process.

The album’s energy never once abates, as the vitality of the songs continues to maintain a high level, even until “The Menagerie, Part 1” in which the energy climbs even higher. This final track employs many of the same techniques that made the rest of the album likeable, and it also uses some more experimental sounds that bring the band’s sound into higher clarity.

​A well-formed album, Colossus makes a wholehearted case for Run Amok being a gifted, skillful band more than capable of the goals they wish to achieve.

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