Atom Smash: Beautiful Alien

Hailing from Florida, Beautiful Alien is the second release from modern-rockers Atom Smash, following up the 2010 debut Love Is The Missile. However not having heard this band up until now, I can't shed any light on whether that weapon of mass destruction hit its target or not. However if it had the power and precision of Beautiful Alien, then my guess is that it did serious damage. Cleverly combining the sounds of all those acts that you'll flick through on Scuzz or Kerrang TV with something a little more wholesome and believable in a Black Stone Cherry kind of way, Atom Smash are the sort of band that had both an old has-been like me and my fifteen year old daughter, sitting up and taking notice.

The four-piece from Miami have actually been together since 2006 and released a couple of EP's before their debut album. It shows - in a good way, as Beautiful Alien is a confident, assured blending of styles that never feels forced, or contrived. In fact the likes of "Cocaine Angel" or "The World Is Ours" come across as lived in songs that don't feel the need to flash bristling muscles in a vain show of machismo. There's no denying that these two songs - and the rest of this album - are bursting with aggressive riffs, punchy drums and spitting, biting vocals (a bit James Dean-Bradfield), however more importantly none of these aspects overshadow the intricate melodies, or well thought through lyrical ideas. Add to that the ability Atom Smash obviously have to mix things up and offer different approaches and Beautiful Alien really is an album that never feels tired, even after numerous visits. The gentle closing number "Kids Got Moves" throws out an acoustic heartfelt vibe, with a country twist, while the album's title track, if beefed up a little bit, could be a hit for the likes of Black Stone Cherry or Shinedown.

Oddly, but rather satisfyingly a cover of the Seal chart-smash "Kiss From A Rose", is rocked up, in a still true to the original kinda way, actually giving vocalist "Serg" the opportunity to really stretch his range and attack - something he apparently relished. That said, guitarist Luke "Cowboy" Rice, bassist Dave Carrey and drummer Mark "Taco" Annino, are never left behind, with the music also showing a breadth of ideas and maturity in execution that many younger bands seem to lack. The only blot on the Beautiful Angel copy-book comes in the shape of the near eight minutes of silence between the aforementioned "Kids Got Moves" and a bizarre, pan-pipes led instrumental that is far from worth the wait. I've said it before and unfortunately, I'm sure I'll say it again. Who wants to sit for any length of time listening to nothing, only for a song that adds zero to a really good album to come along and spoil the mood? Nobody, that's who - stop it and stop it now!

Other than that, Atom Smash have conjured up a Beautiful Alien that I sure can't take my eyes off!

Track Listing
1. Beautiful Alien
2. Square 1
3. Hangman
4. Good Times, Dark Ages
5. The World Is Ours
6. Kiss from a Rose
7. Don't You Forget It
8. Cocaine Angel
9. Hole in My Head
10. 2012 Baby
11. Kids Got Moves

Added: May 19th 2012
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Atom Smash MySpace
Hits: 2120
Language: english

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