Album Review: Sadie And The Stark

Sadie And The Stark

Self-titled, self-released 5-song EP

“Witches”--the first song on a five-track debut EP by local band Sadie And The Stark--is an intriguing introduction to the band’s aesthetics: Lead-singer/guitarist Sadie Rogers’ strong and confident vocal style (not unlike Garbage’s Shirley Manson)  is the centerpiece, as she sings about the thrill of desire, with an underbelly of danger: “I want to taste you” and “You are going to answer for the killing/You are going to get on your knees.” “Apocalypse,” with a more seductive and slower tempo, furthers this theme, with Sadie urging multiple times, “Come on boy, do what you do to me.” A three-piece band ably lays down the backing rhythms behind her vocals. “Two Reasons” is a theatrically delivered breakup ballad with a twinge of country acoustics, and, showing instrumental range, “Black Hearted Lover” uses wide-open, distorted guitar chords and rapid snare shots, along with Rogers’ powerful yodels, to tell one more rocking story of ill-fated lovers.

7/10

Click this link and navigate to page 40 for original print version, published in the March 2016 issue of Illinois Entertainer

Soundcloud link to music

www.sadieandthestark.com

Album Review: Megadeth's "Dystopia"

MEGADETH

Dystopia

(Universal)

On Megadeth’s latest album, Dave Mustaine’s dystopian world view begins with Middle Eastern vocalization and instrumentation that quickly transitions into electric guitar shredding and Mustaine declaring: “Justified obliteration/No one cares anymore.” And that’s just the opening track “The Threat Is Real.” Don’t kill the messenger. Megadeth is here to remind us that the world is going to hell. Mustaine is not giddy about it: he’s upset, and *Dystopia* serves as his latest political/social manifesto, something fans expect along with high-energy thrashing and Mustaine’s trademark sneering. Multiple other tracks (including the title track, “Conquer...or Die!” and “Lying In State”) mine similar pessimism about the current state of the world, with Mustaine declaring on “Fatal Illusion” that “It’s a fatal illusion to think that evil never dies,” a song that also showcases Mustaine’s considerable lead guitar skills alongside Lamb of God drummer Chris Adler’s double-bass assault. On “Post-American World,” Mustaine asks, “If you don’t like where we’re going/Then you won’t like what’s coming next. What will we look like in the post-American world?/ Why cower to all those who oppose the American world?” Spoken like a true patriot.

9/10

Click this link and navigate to page 24 to see print magazine version of review, published in March 2016 issue of Illinois Entertainer magazine