TRAGIK – Ultima Ratio (2021)
TRAGIK is one of the several bands from the always busy Phil Vincent, and one the the most long lasting. Their new CD “Ultima Ratio” is Tragik’s seventh overall, and for those who think the band has turned a bit repetitive all over the years, here Vincent & Co offers some refreshing material.
Always with longtime collaborators Damian D’Ercole (bass) and talented Vince O’Regan providing guitar solos, Tragik’s sound & style is classic American Hard Rock with driving melodies.
However this time “Ultima Ratio” the sonic approach is quite different, especially Vincent’s rhythm guitar work. He’s a skilled guitarist, and a good 6-string player not only is all about solos, but to create solid, effective song-backbone rhythms.
On most of the new “Ultima Ratio” songs, we can hear a crunchier guitar work like never before on a Tragik album, a places with a metallic edge recalling the classic ’80s US metal era. Add to that a darker feel, augmented by a groovier pulse.
Melodies and layered choruses are still the order of the day, wrapped by a solid clean production.
Tragik is a riff infused hard rock act, and as said, “Ultima Ratio” should be their most riff-driven album to date. The guitars, keys and pounding drums all combine effortlessly together, and alongside Vince O’Regan swirling solos we hear other interesting shredder in William Roux, giving different color to the songs.
Songwriting wise “Ultima Ratio” is varied, from uptempo hard rockers to midpaced melodic tunes, as the Thin Lizzy influenced ‘Out on a Limb’.
“Ultima Ratio” is very solid, different Tragik album lead by mastermind Phil Vincent, a genre musician who always put’s his heart and soul into every release and always waves the flag of his love of ’80s hard rock / melodic related genres as high as possible.
He focuses on creating something that he knows will tick the boxes genre fans will enjoy while appeasing his own need to create something he himself is proud of regardless of others opinions at the same time.
This energizing groove driven rock ‘n’ roll album is another shining example of what a complete artist he is.
Highly Recommended
01 – Hunter
02 – Wet Dog
03 – The Last Resort
04 – Out on a Limb
05 – One Last Time
06 – Seeds of the Sky
07 – Piece by Piece
08 – All I Have Left
09 – Requiem
10 – Hope
Phil Vincent – Vocals, Bass, Keyboards, Guitars, Drums
Damian D’Ercole – Bass
Dirk Phillips – Drums and Percussion
Vince O’Regan – Lead Guitars (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10)
William Roux – Lead Guitars (3, 8)
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