On Top-Topless

Toil Records
2015 

It's no secret that I've been a fan of Philadelphia's On Top since first hearing their 2012 debut, "Top Heavy". A drop-dead serious heavy rock/heavy metal gem, "Top Heavy" left me with high hopes as to the the future of this fantastic power trio. It took some time, but the band did (eventually) make their return with a worthy follow-up in the form of 2014's  "Top to Bottom". Between that (highly-recommend!) EP and the band's (must own!) full-length debut, "Top Heavy", this hard rock/traditional heavy metal band was on easy street. Now On Top return's with their third release (and second overall 4-track EP in as many years) "Topless". Digitally at least, "Topless" is due out on July 9th and if this band was on easy street already thanks to their two previous releases then this new EP should make them the supreme rulers of the surrounding city, state, and country! For band-members Jaron Gulino (lead vocal/bass), Brian Davis (guitar/vocals), and Danny Piselli (drums/vocals) this is as good as it gets and then some! Recorded at Tribe Sound Studios in West Chester, Pennsylvania, engineered by Brian Davis, and mix/mastered by Chris "The Wizard" Collier (KXM, Lynch Mob), "Topless" features the same kind of (sleazy does it) hard & heavy rock that we've come to associate with On Top and once you hit play on this EP's aggressive opener, "Lie to Me", it's all but over friends! Forget about Looks That Kill as this Philly-based trio has Hooks That Kill! These four tracks make you want to get up and get down(!) with the razor rock guitar solos of Brian Davis simply being too good for words! Between those riff-rocking leads and Jaron Gulino's gritty/gruff voice* it's all solid-gold for On Top, but make no mistake as to this band's ultimate strength. For On Top it's always been about that perfect balance between the melodies and the muscle and that's never been more clear than on this catchy EP! On Top's rhythm section helps that along nicely with each individual number on "Topless" showcasing it's own unique charm. Rounded out by the cool songs "Crazy", "282", and "Got Me Runnin'​" (with that last one a real a beauty!) this EP is just what On Top fans need. For the time being this is only a digital release, but sometime down the road there's talk of "Topless" getting a proper CD release. Let's all hope that happens sooner than later and let us also hope that On Top doesn't make us wait that long for their next full-length   release!
 

* Last time around I described Jaron Gulino's voice as sounding like "Rage Against The Machine's Zack de la Rocha (if Zack had been influenced more by the likes of Bon Scott, Lemmy, Ozzy, etc.) going through a sleazy street metal phase". I'll stand by that statement and no, it's not a problem at all for this band! His voice works well with On Top's guitar-driven, rough and ready stab at heavy metal/hard rock and by this point in the game I simply cannot picture any other singer fronting this trio!

Interview with On Top's Jaron Gulino

This past Monday I covered "Top to Bottom" which is the latest 

EP from Philadelphia's own On Top. Now I'm happy to present an

interview that I did with On Top front-man/bassist Jaron Gulino.

Jaron, who is currently out on the road with his other 

band Mach22,is not only a fantastic lead singer/bass player, 

but an all-around nice guy and I want to thank him for chatting 

with us about On Top's past and their future plans! Be sure 

to pick up a copy of On Top's killer debut-album "Top Heavy" 

and keep an eye out for their soon to be released new EP!

 
Andy-This is probably a question that you've been asked before,  

but (for clarity sake) how did On Top come about? 

Jaron-On Top started as a creative outlet in 2008. 

At the time I was playing in thrash and death metal bands 

and wanted to branch out and do something more rock related.
 
Andy-Your band's first album, "Top Heavy", is one of my 

all time fave debut albums. Can I just say that?
 
Jaron-Thank you very much. A lot of time and effort went 

into that album and we are very proud of that release.
 
Andy-Has On Top ever been more then a part-time project? 

Three years is a long time between releases after all!
 
Jaron-During the release of "Top Heavy" we were fully 

committed to running full time. After a little while we 

were beginning to have a conflict of interest with our guitarist 

and it soon fizzled out into a lull. We had begun work on what 

would later become "Top to Bottom" within a year after the 

release of "Top Heavy" but our guitarist ended up 

leaving halfway through the recording process. At the time we 

didn't have anyone to replace him so we took some time off to 

work on our other projects until the time was right to resume 

working.
 
Andy-Talk to us about your new guitarist would you? 

Where did you find a musician of that skill-level? 

Especially one who seems to have such a distinct style?
 
Jaron-Brian Davis was actually the very first person to ever 

get involved with On Top back in 2008. He played on the band's 

first demo and also engineered both the first and second demos. 

He is known locally as a great player and teacher, though he 

wasn't interested in perusing any band commitments for a long 

while. He taught everyone I know from back home how to play the 

guitar and is respected by just about everyone. His skill comes 

from years and years of playing and teaching. He is 

multi-talented at many instruments as well. He and I have 

always gelled musically and in taste for the most part, so 

it was a natural step to ask him to be a part of 

"Top to Bottom". He was originally on board to engineer and 

help produce, as well as appear on the album as a session player. 

He ended up loving the end result and asked to join the band.
 

Andy-While it's true that I love both On Top releases the 

new EP sounds less like a follow-up and more like a statement 

that this is who you are and this is what you stand for. 

Was there a conscious effort to give these four tracks 

their own identity?

Jaron-I appreciate that. I think the difference with this 

album was obviously the change in guitarist. We also wanted 

to take what we did on "Top Heavy" and make it bigger and better 

in every way we could. I think we have finally found our groove 

and know exactly how to get the best out of each other. 

The identify simply shows it's true colors, there was no 

specific label or sound that we were looking for. We wanted 

to make music that we could love and still be excited 

to listen to after the completion of the album.
 
Andy-Well, you're not the only ones who ended up loving the 

final product Jaron. I've now listened to the EP a half dozen 

times in just a couple of days! 

Jaron-Right on! I'm glad you like it. 

It feels great to see something that we have worked so hard on 

being well received by people. 

Andy-New guitarist in place and all can we now expect a more 

formal version of On Top? More shows and more studio works? 

Please say yes to both! 

Jaron-Absolutely! We are gearing up to record another EP in the 

next month or two. We want to keep cranking out material and take 

whatever gigs seem of interest. We rehearse and write together 

like crazy but don't feel any pressure to chase gigs if they 

aren't there. Hopefully the more people that hear the releases 

will help generate a demand for us to come play.

Andy-To the point, but what would it take to make On Top a 

full-time band? I know I've said it before and I'll say it 

again-The scene needs On Top. Rock and rock needs On Top. 

We all need On Top if we are going to survive! 

Jaron-It wouldn't take much. We play because we love it and 

aren't doing it for any sort of fame or fortune. We work 

full time behind the scenes already, so if a full time 

schedule of gigs appears, we will by all means pursue them. 

Help us get the word out so we can take the world by storm!
 

Andy-What can people do to keep the On Top dream alive and 

rocking then Jaron?
 
Jaron-Just check out the music and support us. Shoot us a 

line on our Facebook (Facebook.com/ontopofficial) or 

web page (Www.ontoprocks.com) and let us know where we should 

come play. 


Andy-Well, you should come to my part of Ohio to say the least!

How about my back yard for my birthday on July 11th?

Seriously though, any last words for fans of old and those 

who are new to the band?
 
Jaron-Keep the scene alive by supporting new bands and 

spreading the word. Buy, steal, or bootleg... Whatever it takes. 

The more ears it reaches, the better! Check out our newest 

EP "Top to Bottom" available on our website and on iTunes 

starting June 3rd. 

Andy-Thanks Jaron! As for you readers, what are you waiting for?

You heard the man! Check out the band's latest EP asap so that

you'll have pleanty of time to get caught up with what will

most likely be one of your new fave bands! 

On Top-Top to Bottom

HPGD Productions
2014

It has been three long years since we last heard from Philadelphia’s hard & heavy/classic heavy metal/N.W.O.B.H.M.-inspired rockers On Top. That is far too long to have to wait in-between releases (three years too long!) if you ask me as On Top's debut-album, "Top Heavy", was absolutely killer! With nods to everyone from Accept and Saxon to Malice and Metallica it was one of those LPs* which you just couldn't get enough of! You can read my review of it below, but for now let's tackle this short (as in only four songs!) EP and ask the questions that should be on everyone's mind in regards to power trio On Top. Those would be "Where have you been all this time?" and "Why, after all these years away from a scene that really could have used your honest to goodness, real rock and roll mentality, do we get only FOUR freakin' tracks from you!". That first question could be answered by the fact that this seems to be a part-time project. Lead vocalist/bassist Jaron Gulino (who sounds like Rage Against The Machine's Zack de la Rocha (if Zack had been influenced more by the likes of Bon Scott, Lemmy, Ozzy, etc.) going through a sleazy street metal phase) does spend time in Mach22 (who have also graced these pages in the past year) and drummer Danny Piselli is also in Fisthammer whose new release, "Infallible", I just covered last week! So yes, those two members do find their time limited I suspect. Still, here is one of those occasions where I wish their part-time project was actually their full-time project as I thoroughly enjoy it and find it WAY more interesting then what they are doing otherwise! Here on "Top to Bottom" (due to be released on June 3rd) the pair is joined by newcomer Brian Davis on lead guitar and, other then the short length of this one, there isn't one thing to complain about! Even with a new guitarist in place it's the same On Top that thrilled on "Top Heavy". Again the band draws from the likes of Accept, Saxon, Malice and even (if to a slightly less extent) Metallica along with sleaze/hard rock influences (early Mötley Crüe, Ratt, Dokken, AC/DC, Kiss, W.A.S.P., Ozzy etc.) and some other more metallic reference points (Judas Priest, Motörhead, Black Sabbath). Only this time around the band looks to knock off the more obvious sources of inspirations and, by focusing on their strengths and encouraging each other to write more original compositions, On Top has returned with an EP that sounds less like the competition and more like, well, On Top. And it bloody well works! Whether it's the EP's stellar production**, the transfusion of new blood (Brian Davis is a skilled guitarist who lead solos have a real classic hard rock niche about them!) or the realization on the part of Jaron Gulino and Danny Piselli that they can rock out to their own beat there is just something about "Top to Bottom" that just screams out "Top Heavy is here!". If only that scream would be followed by more good music and less years sat waiting around for Top Heavy to answer it's true calling: to conquer a scene in desperate need of real, hard-edge heavy rock/traditional metal! Let's all hope then that Top Heavy heads that call! For now though you can pre-order the digital download of "Top to Bottom" right here: http://hpgd.bandcamp.com/album/top-to-bottom  for only $4.44 or, better yet, you can pre-order "Top to Bottom" on CD for only $8 (includes free shipping) right here:  http://www.horrorpaingoredeath.com/store/hpgd087.html   And, if want to find out more about these Philadelphia rockers (and why wouldn't you?), then head over to their Facebook page right below!

www.facebook.com/ontoprocks 

 *No, it wasn't actually released on LP. However (and this is a HUGE however!!!!!) it had one of those classic metal vibes and it bore all the hallmarks of great hard rock, heavy metal and speed metal/thrash metal LPs of old (or the eighties if you will!). "Top Heavy" could have easily been issued on vinyl and it would have sounded like a match made in heaven!

** "Top To Bottom" was recorded at Tribe Sound Studios in West Chester, PA, engineered/mixed by Brian Davis and mastered by Chris “The Wizard” Collier (KXM, Lynch Mob)

Review of the smashing "Top Heavy":
http://metalmark.blogspot.com/2012/01/on-top-top-heavy.html