2013
Last October Divebomb Records, which is a division of Tribunal Records, announced the arrival of a new series called "Divebomb Bootcamp". Initially the Bootcamp series was set-up so that it could "pay homage to seminal record label, Combat Records, and the vinyl 12" releases they originally issued back in the late 80's bearing the same moniker". Translated that means that the series would be used to highlight long thought lost gems of the hard rock and heavy metal underground. We're talking about unreleased albums, lost-sessions and demo recordings from misc. bands. These releases would be strictly-limited to a mere 500 copies and they would include a smorgasbord of cool extras like brand new artwork, full-color booklets with previously unavailable pictures and even new interviews with the bands! All of which is fine by me. Especially seeing as there are more then enough (extremely worthy) "lost" recordings floating around out there to keep a series like this going strong for years and years to come! But, here's the thing. While Divebomb Records might have started off with the notion that they would just unearth lost gems, which again is a damn fine idea all around, somewhere along the way a new idea popped into their heads. Why not use this series as a way to (also) highlight new and exciting, up-and-coming bands that might not otherwise get a chance to step up and shine in the spotlight? Solid idea right? All of which brings us to the aptly-titled Electric Age and this recently released six-track EP. Despite calling Brazil home, and (overall) being from the wrong-time period, this young outfit sounds remarkable British in their approach to seventies rock. Yes, I said seventies rock. Probably the only thing that would give this one away (in regards to it being from the here and now and not the late seventies) would be the more modern production. Otherwise this limited edition CD (we're talking about only 500 copies boys and girls with this sweet EP so you might not want to drag your feet on snagging this one up!) sounds as if it was ripped straight out time and dropped right into the laps of those of us who long for a time when rock and roll was still real and not so "artificial". Lead by the rustic vocals of (rock star in the making) Junior Rodrigues, whose soulful and heartfelt voice sets the stage for what is to come early on with Rainbow meets Uriah Heap rocker "Rise", Electric Age rolls through their Divebomb Records' debut-release with the cruise control set firmly on ROCK! And rock this band does! Cuts like the Rainbow-flavored "Dreamer" and the UFO-inspired "All Night Long" offer up hope real rock and roll is still more then ready and willing to kick down the doors of the establishment and give modern radio rock the old heave-ho that it rightly deserves! Sure, "All Night Long" might also have a bit of (early) G 'N R going for it, but at the end of the day this is a band that is more rooted in the likes of Rainbow, Uriah Heep, Deep Purple, Blue Öyster Cult (bits and pieces of "Echoes Of Insanity" show a clear love for the more straight-ahead rock style of late eighties B.Ö.C and, yes, it is awesome!) and even Sweet (see "Good Times Are Coming") then late eighties/early nineties hard rock! In fact when you hear a track like "Snake Eater" it's not too surprising to find out that the band began life as a Deep Purple tribute act. Besides being custom-crafted arena rockers, meaning AOR lovers should stand up and take notice, both "Snake Eater" and it's follow-up number, "Echoes Of Insanity", sound as if they could be long-lost Deep Purple numbers! A lot of that goes back to the skillful playing of guitarist Luiz Felipe Cardim whose rock riffs make a release like "Electric Age" sizzle! Together with Junior Rodrigues (and let's not forget the lethal rhythm section of bassist Otavio Cintra and drummer Nico "The Boss") guitarist Luiz Felipe Cardim cuts a clear a clear path through the mess that passes for rock and roll these days. The fact is if numbers like "Snake Eater", "Echoes Of Insanity", "All Night Long" and "Dreamer" don't make you believe in the healing powers of rock and roll again then you might want to check your pulse as you're probably dead! This EP, with it's full-color, 12 page booklet(!) serving as nothing short of a spicy addition, is a must for those who love real rock and roll especially the classics!
http://tribunalrecords.bigcartel.com/product/electric-age-electric-age
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