BAD SEED RISING – Charm City (2015)
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BAD SEED RISING, a quartet of teens (all under their 20s) from Maryland, has been making a name for itself in the area in the past couple years, sharing stages with Halestorm, Winger, Extreme and others, playing at the world-famous M3 Rock Festival, and with a song on the major Twentieth Century Fox new movie ‘Spy’ soundtrack.
After an indie debut EP, “Charm City” is the band’s first project for the storied Roadrunner Records (a subsidiary of the major label Atlantic).
Bad Seed Rising is the youngest band ever signed in Roadrunner’s 34-year history. Its members are home-schooled in order to make the most of this opportunity. They meet in a practice space converted from a construction business’ office space, four days a week, on top of taking lessons for their instruments.
Despite their age, the members have been working toward this goal for a while. Louey Peraza (bass) and Aiden Marceron (drums) have been lifelong friends because their fathers played together in the Baltimore post-hardcore act Shaft during the 1990s.
The band is completed by Mason Gainer (guitar) and a charismatic girl at the mic; Francheska Pastor.
You might expect a group so young to veer into pop-punk territory or whatever trend the kids are into these days, but the rocking grooving of opener (entitled as the band) “Bad Seed Rising” quickly dashes those expectations.
The catchy “Hey Kid” currently in rotation on US Rock radio, has ‘hit single’ written all over it. I hear some similarities to what Halestorm would create, yet much more straight and simple.
Track three, “Time Bomb,” picks up the pace and delivers a big, sing-along chorus, then the poppy “King Kong” is some kind of a celebration of the feeling just about every musician gets whenever they perform, gives lead guitarist Mason Gainer his best solo spot. An the kid can play.
“Wolves at the Door” mixes some bluesy riffs in a Pat Benatar style but with a 2015 production. Perhaps some Joan Jett too.
The rest of the songs are from their first EP and you can hear the difference in production (which on the new stuff is really modern). “Eat Your Heart Out” rocks with a deep groove and a dark atmosphere, followed by the ultra-catchy “I Won’t Be the One”.
Despite its title “Dark Before the Dawn” is a feel good melodious rocker including keyboards in the background, “Get By” is a bit weak but the guitar solo saves the track, while the short but effective (with pretty sensual vocals by Francheska) “Smoke Stack” ends the tracklist.
Bad Seed Rising has a very ’80s rock vibe that 17-year-old Francheska Pastor’s voice seems to be made for. Yes, they’re kids, but these 10 songs are strong (a new EP is ready and will be featured here soon) and shows an immense potential. Their music is straight-forward rock with a hard rock groove, yet recorded with a slick, polished production.
There’s meaty riffs, infectious hooks and youthful energy that make Bad Seed Rising a band to watch in the coming year.
01 – Bad Seed Rising
02 – Hey Kid
03 – Timebomb
04 – King Kong
05 – Wolves At The Door
06 – Eat Your Heart Out
07 – I Won’t Be the One
08 – Dark Before the Dawn
09 – Get By
10 – Smoke Stack
Francheska Pastor – vocals, guitar
Mason Gainer – guitar
Louey Peraza – bass
Aiden Marceron – drums
BUY IT !
www.amazon.com/Bad-Seed-Rising-Charm-City/dp/B00KFZKLAY
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