Summers are a rock band from Southampton, Hampshire, England.
They comprise of: Crash Summers - Lead Vocals, Ricky Summers - Bass & Vocals, Jason Sepala - Guitar & Vocals, Joedy Rose - Guitar & Vocals, Andy Pope - Drums & Vocals.
The band are influenced by the likes of Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, Thin Lizzy and Aerosmith, among others.
And have just released their début album '364'. Which is the reason I am writing this blog. So without further ado, here is my review of 364.
Shot In The Dark - A strong opening riff kicks off the album with a sense of things to come. Clean vocals take hold over melodic guitars and a dramatic drum track. The echoing vocals of 'Catch Me' certainly represent this catchy tune and it is a very positive opening song. The band have laid out their intentions to entertain and captivate their audience.
Superhero - After the first few seconds luring you into thinking this is going to be a slow ballad-esque song, the guitars rip open and the drums belt out. It's only the second song of the album and the band have a settled sound that is very pleasing to the ears. The lyrics are clean and have you singing along before you know it. Plus, any song that eludes that Batman is a whore has to be a winner! I really enjoy this style of rock; clean-cut, strong riffs and a fantastic blend of bridging from strong to soft.
Girls - No messing with the opening of this song, blasting straight out the speakers and not slowing down. It is foot tapping, head nodding, pure rock. The lyrics are well written and are greatly complimented by the melodic riffs from the guitars and an unrelenting drum beat.
And after a 5 minute break to try and get that chorus out of my head we can move on. Damn, that is a catchy song.
Too Late - A slower paced ballad breaks into the rapidness that this album has held during the first 3 songs. It shows the depth of change this band have already cultivated for themselves. A great sounding song that holds the attention and keeps that foot moving. Again the lyrics are so well penned they have you singing along in no time. My only gripe is that it seems to end abruptly. This is no bad thing but I was still singing along when the next song jumped in!
Sometimes - And jump in it certainly does. After the slowness of Too Late, this song fires straight up with belting drums and melodic guitars. The track bounces along nicely and with the style that this band has shown to enslave the ear from the offset. The ending sees the lyrics trailing off into a blend of riffing from the guitarists and the unrelenting drum beat which has worked so well throughout the album.
Steal Away - These guys really like to play with the listeners. Another song that opens with a relaxed tune, soon scares the pants off you when the amps are cranked up. This song is a salute to the masters of rock with a real fun rocking vibe. Once again, the lyrics are decidedly catchy and, soon enough, there is nothing you can do to stop yourself singing along.
Let's Make Love - Another song that showcases a differing sound the band have in their repertoire. Resonating guitar sounds blend over the top of the drums before the vocals drift into the melody. The song then picks up and rolls over the chorus with a brutal power. This is a superb contrast with the smoothness of the verses and the band have clearly worked the tempo change to perfection.
Billy - Speaking of changing tempo. Wow! 'Billy' shoots from the starting blocks and doesn't stop. This song flies along with fast paced guitars, quick lyrics and a drum track which makes me wonder if Andy Pope has more than 2 arms! This song is just 3 and a half minutes of pure energy flowing from the speakers. Summers seem to have picked up every rock sound available and nailed it as their own.
Let's Go Round - This could be re-titled 'Ode to Motley Crue'. Another great track which picks you up and ensures your head is nodding until its conclusion. This is a really enjoyable song that allows the guitarists to have some fun throwing solos around. I can't think of a time I sung so much during the first listen of an album! Some inspired lyric writing has taken place on this album and the audible entrapment of each song is amazing.
Told You So - A change of sound on this track shows the influence Bon Jovi has had on the band. Softer vocals on top of a hard rocking track. A fantastic guitar riff carries the flow and creates a melody bouncing off the hard hitting drums. Another bout of continuous foot tapping plays out through this high-spirited and playful tune.
Terminator - This song begins with a futuristic electronic sound before the ever present riffage and exuberant drums of this band kick in. The pace fastens into another energy fuelled track filled with guitar solos abound. I feel this song would be the perfect opener for a live set, with it's audio track building up whilst the band enter the stage and then they kick in as the lights go up. But that's just my opinion.
Rock Machine - And so we reach the final song of the album. Another audio track introduces the song and then the guys jump in feet first with a hard rocking tune. It's a really animated song that makes great use of the backing vocals to join it together. This is a real lively and energetic song to finish the album with. And it seems the guys may be looking to put a message across as to their future intentions with the lyrics 'Can't stop the rock machine'.
Summers could have just jumped straight out of the 80s music scene to bring a fresh new sound to the current rock fans. This is a superb album and I can see Summers becoming a huge hit with the fans of this music. Each song has a lot of energy and are well crafted. The lyrics have been well written and are unbelievably catchy.
I apologise if this review has sounded bias towards the band but I have never enjoyed a first listen to a début album as I have with 364.
The album is available on iTunes, and I'm sure from other music selling places.
Many thanks for reading.
