2013
I'm pleading ignorance when it comes to Perth-based Reaper's Riddle. Until this morning I had never heard of this heavy rock/heavy metal band. Thanks to the cool folks over at Killshot PR, who actually dropped the music video for "Drop" onto my lap, that's all changed. I now have another up-and-coming band to keep an eye out/ear out for. After checking out their new single "Drop", which mark's their first foreign into the world of music videos, there was no question at all that I'd be adding them onto my radar. There was one other question though. Does a band that's been at it for 5 years now actually count as a up-and-coming act? Maybe or maybe not. If that's the only issue I walk away with after checking out "Drop" then this band must be doing something right! Formed in 2009, with their self-titled demo LP dropping the very same year, the band has slowly been building up a loyal fan-base in their home country thanks to some solid studio-releases and, what is said to be, highly energetic live performances. Reportedly the band's first record-release party resulted in a packed venue that was completely sold out of alcohol by 11pm! There's no doubt in my mind that the people who did manage to gain entry into the group's "record-breaking debut launch" worked up quite a thirst thanks to the band's early working-class style of hard rock. I know as much thanks to the fact that (after listening to "Drop" a few times) I went and picked up their back-catalog on iTunes! Having done so I can honestly say that this is one group that has improved with each new release. So, besides being described as a beast when it comes to playing live, Reaper's Riddle do know their way around a studio. It's easy to hear the group's musical progression with all things eventually converging on "Drop" and (subsequently) their upcoming concept album "The Ballad Of Tristan Daye" (expected for release sometime in mid-2014). With a strong front-man like Clayton Mitchell standing front and center the band's future does look promising. He's got just the right kind of pipes for this sort of heavy rock/heavy metal band and while he stays busy on the mic there are two guitarists on board who do more then just throw out bunch of random riffs. Michael Willis and Dan Bishop help to keep things moving along with some solid hard rock solos. That makes sense as this band knows a thing or two about good hard rock bands and great hard rock hooks! Classic acts like Black Sabbath, Alice Cooper, Judas Priest, Kiss, Metallica, AC/DC, The Four Horsemen, Dio and Megadeth have no doubt crept through the tiny cracks and influenced this bunch. Then again we're also talking about a group that "likes" newer acts such as Rob Zombie and Disturbed and has probably picked up a few pointers along the way from bands like Godsmack, Pantera, Dark New Day and Avenged Sevenfold. If all of that leaves your head spinning then just stop, sit down, take a deep breath and plug into "Drop". It will all make more sense then. From the vocals to the guitars and yes, even all the way down to the rhythm section (featuring bassist Jason Edwards and drummer Wayne Frodyma) Reaper's Riddle has the right kind of line-up and the right kind style and sound to make it. Heavy rock like this is really the best of both worlds as you could imagine this single played on FM radio just as you could easily as you could picture these guys hitting the road with a heavyweight act like Motörhead. Heck, I could easily see "Drop" getting the Lemmy seal of approval! Reaper's Riddle are just that kind of band and one worth keeping an eye and ear out for.
Music video for "Drop"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdVwbQtVec8
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