MICHAEL COSYN GROUP (feat Paul Shortino) – Burn The Earth (2015)
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Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, The MICHAEL COSYN GROUP is a power trio inspired by ’70s & ’80s classic Hard Rock acts which are presenting their pretty hot debut “Burn The Earth“. Fronted by guitarist Michael Cosyn who also handles vocals, the band is completed by two experienced musicians in bass player Cris Snyder (Franz Zappa’s Tom Fowler alumnus) and drummer Mike Vanderhule (Y&T).
The Michael Cosyn Group started several years ago as a cover band, but Cosyn writes his own songs and the time to record the original material arrived this year resulting in “Burn The Earth”.
Cosyn and the guys must be doing things right as reputedly singer Paul Shortino (Rough Cutt, Quiet Riot) agreed to put his classy vocals on the album.
Additionally, The Michael Cosyn Group is touring the US opening for Pat Travers and Gary Hoey Band, two cats that only accept quality.
And indeed “Burn The Earth” delivers quality songs and rigorous, tight playing.
Title track opens the album and from the start shows what The Michael Cosyn Group are capable of; groovy bass lines, steady drumming, humming guitar riffs and Shortino’s raspy yet melodic bluesy vocal melodies. Cosyn’s soloing is sharp, spiraling, with a classic valvular sound stright from the amp.
After that strong opener, we have more goodies, in fact, all tracks are really solid.
“Rivers Run Dry” jumps with a shuffle riff, and “Angel’s Wings” slows things a bit for really melodic verses and an interesting atmospheric middle part. On the Hendrix-esque “Blind Man” Cosyn takes the mic for his decent lead vocals, but the song is mostly based on muscular instrumentals.
“Rescue” is perhaps the more commercial song of the bunch driven by a heavy-funk rhythm (Shortino shines here), shade while shades of Thin Lizzy appear on “Freedom Cries”,
“Hearts On The Line” is a competent deep whiskey-soaked bluesy ballad, “Save Me” rocks with an early ’80s hard vibe akin Robin Tower, and the album closes with the very calm “Lying Eyes”, again showcasing the group’s accurate playing and Shortino’s pipes.
I must confess I approached The Michael Cosyn Group debut due to Paul Shortino’s presence, but the band’s debut surprised me in many positive ways.
The songs (all) are good, well arranged, and Cosyn & the guys sound really, really well oiled. In addition to this, production is strong and earthy, exactly what this type of music demand.
But essentially, what I really enjoyed about the Michael Cosyn Group is their freshness and the fact that, being and indie act they don’t need to follow trends or directives, and play their stuff from the heart.
Very Recommended.
01 – Burn The Earth
02 – Rivers Run Dry
03 – Angel’s Wings
04 – Blind Man
05 – Rescue
06 – Freedom Cries
07 – Hearts On The Line
08 – Save Me
09 – Lying Eyes
Paul Shortino – vocals
Michael Cosyn – guitars, vocals
Cris Snyder – bass, backing vocals
Mike Vanderhule – drums
BUY IT !
www.amazon.com/Burn-Earth-feat-Paul-Shortino/dp/B00YE99OW8
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