Release Date: May 16, 2019
Label: Independent
Over the years, Doctor Pheabes has honed their sound into
something that, on the surface seems like polished classic rock, yet the deeper
you listen the more texture and complexity you find. The music is a composite of ‘70s hard rock,
‘80s flash, and ‘90’s alt-rock. Doctor Pheabes are a hard rock history lesson
unto themselves.
Army of the Sun starts with a bang. The title
track is a rocking foot-stomper that could be played at any sports arena to get
the crowd pumped. “Better off Alone”
sounds more like a Nirvana song with a fast/slow/fast tempo, yet steeped in
classic rock roots. Like the tempo
within their songs, they slow things down effectively on tracks such as “Ask of
You,” and this reviewers favorite, “Live Forever”.
As torchbearers for the New Classic Rock movement, it is hard
not to borrow from one’s influences. The
danger is sounding unoriginal and in places Army of the Sun does. Lyrically, there is not much here you haven’t
heard before. One could argue that for
anthem rock, it is best to stick with the formula. Turn idioms into song titles and fill the
lyrics with rhyming couplets. Still, it
is a successful formula and Doctor Pheabes uses it well.
If you’re looking to rock out for a spell, you won’t go wrong
with Doctor Pheabes’ Army of the Sun. These songs are accessible,
enjoyable and the guitar work by Fernando Parrillo is outstanding. Knowing you’ll hear a stellar guitar solo on
each of these songs is cause enough to have them in steady rotation in your
playlist.
Tom Endyke - MuzikMan.net Staff
January 8, 2019
REVIEWS PROVIDED BY:
Tracks:
01. Army of the Sun
02. Better Off Alone
03. Rebel Riders
04. Here to Stay
05. Your Love Is Mine
06. Ask of You
07. Find a Way
08. Back in Town
09. Stranded in Love
10. Let’s Go
11. Live Forever
