TRAGIK - review added 4th August 2009
Album Review: Outlaw (2009)
For fans of: Rock... and Hard Rock... and Metal... and...
The man behind Tragik is Phil Vincent. He's a singer, writer, producer and multi-instrumentalist known for creating albums from start to finish with little outside input. He's clearly an annoyingly talented guy but, for the Tragik project, he relinquishes his grip on the reins and allows a few other musical types to join the fun.
On Outlaw, Phil (guitars, keys and vocals) is accompanied by Damian D’Ercole (guitars and bass) and Dirk Phillips (drums). Steven Albanese, Billy Roux & Paul Colombo cut in with a few lead guitar parts, whilst drummer Dirk also helps with production duties. This is the second Tragik album and follows 2007's debut Poetic Justice.
The cover for this album bears little relation to the contents. To look at the artwork you'd assume you're either in for a stack of trashy country music, clichéd Southern metal or a bunch of amateurish pub rockers whining away about nothing in particular. Fortunately, the reality is a whole heap better.
Tragik play a multi-rooted rock that's helium-filled AOR, speaker-slaying metal and stadium-filling rock all at the same time. The production keeps matters in check and stops the album descending into a thrash-fest, but there are still places where Outlaw ramps it up big time. The overriding feeling is of understated melodious rock with an edge you could use to shave a beard off.
The album opens with the piano led sound of 'In the Name Of....', a softly-softly song that eventually hits the throttle pedal with some tasty overdriven electric guitars. It rings of mellower Journey and, whilst good, doesn't find the heights it was aiming for. No such problem for 'Two Timer'. It heads in the direction of lairy punk and has a raunchy chorus with some great changes of speed. Phil's voice remains chilled throughout, but the contrast between his smooth delivery and the grinding guitars and double kick drums is most agreeable.
'You Are Everything To Me' is an interesting inclusion. It starts as an R&B / dance track built on tiers of drums and electro-effects. Two thirds of the way through it finds its balls and goes all metal. It actually makes the dance-influenced section worthwhile because the two sections are so different but share a common DNA. If the whole song had been metal it wouldn't have been as good. Speaking of unusual influences and genre-hopping, 'What You Give' sounds like an Eminem track overlaid by harmonies of Jeff Scott Soto on a Skunk trip... It's another frankly odd track that works annoyingly well. Grrr.
'Everything Changes' has an industrial twang, but's it's the chorus that grabs your lapels and shakes you. It's as catchy as an STD, but a heap load more pleasant. The track hints at urgency but remains as cool under the collar as an eskimo in a Gucci suit. It never goes anywhere, but where it resides is just fine so we'll let it off. 'Forgive Me' is sunny-sided song with yet more novel hooks and unusual sounds. It's like an amalgam of 10CC and Iron Maiden mixed with a few parts Enuff Z'Nuff. Again it's understated, but that's to its advantage.
After a couple of distinctly average tracks, 'Go Down Fightin'' cuts in with it's hard rocking beats and aggressive lyrics. It's a song that demands to be turned up LOUD and needs to be listened to with clenched fists. Final track 'Give It Up' is okay but not up to the standard of the best tracks on the album.
Outlaw sees Tragik pumping out a load of great, and a few not-so-great tracks. On balance it's a fine release that'll be a tad understated for some and a touch loud for others. There's plenty of room in the middle though and that's what matters.
Check out... 'Everything Changes'
Track List:
1. In the Name Of....
2. Two Timer
3. On the Other Side
4. You Are Everything to Me
5. What You Give
6. Everything Changes
7. Forgive Me
8. Just Can't Get Enough
9. Loneliness
10. Who's Gonna Make the First Move
11. Go Down Fightin'
12. Give It Up
Artist's website(s): Phil Vincent , MySpace
