Rock-Progressive Review: 6 Turning 4 Burning-6T4B

Release Date: August 26, 2023

Label: Bomber Records

Website

Those Hellraisers From Cleveland, Ohio, 6 Turning 4 Burning, have released a rock album for all true music lovers to give a spin or to blare from your vehicle while cruising down the roads of America. Listen to 6T4B, and I will tell you why track by track.

Indicative of the cover art, they will appeal to those who believe in the freedom of the U.S. and the open roads to travel anywhere. Their music is very eclectic, bordering or launching into full-on progressive.

"Crazy Peace" is an instant satisfying rocker, and the lyrics are a riot! It is about the lady friend or wife, as it may, having their crazy "time of the month." It is a great way to kick off the album. Also, you will hear some exemplary musicianship on the recording. It is bound to click when you assemble a group of seasoned players. The second track, which clocks in at 7:02, is a tribute to their all-around talents and a tight band exhibiting all their skills within one track. It is a killer track featuring all aspects of the band at each position. Notably, the vocals are outstanding.

"So Deep" was a famous track that got thousands of views. It is a rocking love song, a slow cooker, and a tremendous vocal performance. It serves as another dimension of the band to be admired and appreciated.

"Help Me Through This" differs significantly from the previous tracks for 8:29. The guitar playing is bluesy, which fits the lyrics nicely. I am getting more impressed the further I get into the album. The diversification is quite impressive. And because of that, it keeps things interesting. Also, with extensive songs, it is essential not to lose the listener. That never happens because of all the changes. This one is a progressive rocker.

"Something's Wrong" keeps up with the pattern of change. The track starts with a soft acoustic guitar as the bass and drums come in. The vocals are heartfelt and expressing the lyrics beautifully. If you like blues-country tracks, this one is a nice change from the previous track. They sound like a different band on this one.

"It's Over" starts with a funky bass line accompanied by a driving guitar line, then it changes into a slower pace to emphasize the lyrics about the abuse of drugs and all the struggles it can bring. It doesn't sound like any fun, and it should discourage those wanting to take drugs. I think that was the point. As the song lumbers along, the words hit you like a brick wall at 90 mph, saying, "Cocaine's got me down, rest in peace." About halfway through, the song turns into the fast line as the bottom end pushes it along. The guitar plays some fat chords and nice cutting lines to show off their chops. It is another excellent track with 8:44 of fantastic changes and music to keep you wondering what is coming next. Then, at the end, you can hear someone snorting coke.

"Karma" is another long one coming in at 9:34, so I am amazed at how they can keep pumping out all these impressive tracks with such length and complexities. It starts with some definitive chicken pickin', rapid drumming, and a big bass sound. It all changes as it goes back and forth with different paces and styles of playing. It's like a country-fried rocker with hints of the blues for extra color. You may wonder when the vocals will come in, but they finally arrive well into 3+ minutes. And in this case, that is a good thing, as I enjoyed the long instrumental intro. The vocals add their sentiments with lines like "Karma speaks to you all alone." Those words change how we can relate to and experience karma. Which, of course, works if you believe in it. I believe in it without question, so I found the lyrics relatable.

"Take a Hike" is their magnum opus, dialing in at 11:24. I did not know what to expect with a track this long; it had to be progressive. At least, that was my first thought. It starts epically with a hard-driving metallic power; then they start reciting lines from the bible to help save them from the dark master himself, the Devil. It is an incredible track with magnificent music. It is reflective, opaque, and anticipatory. This one convinced me what a superior group of players this band is. Fans of Black Sabbath would love this one for sure. It is most certainly a hike to the darker side of life. In typical fashion, at 4+ minutes, it completes changes in pace and sound. This bass is prolific here. The vocals reminded me of Ian Gillan of Deep Purple. It is so soulful and passionate, and if anyone wants to know how good this band can play, it should be your first track. It's a must! And remember what they say in the song "Don't listen to Devil!" "Take a hike, Devil, disappear!" All instruments are superb throughout the run of the song.

So, if all of that wasn't enough, they test their abilities by covering the ELP classic 'Lucky Man" within 10:07. Could they once again prove themselves as a legitimate force in music? It starts differently than the original, then changes to the more familiar melody you are used to hearing in 2+ minutes. The vocals are excellent, and the music from start to finish is outstanding. It was risky to close out such a superior recording like that, but they pulled it off like the five-star band they are.

6T4B is a title that may give people a different idea of what this band is all about, including the cover art. Trust me on this one; you are in for a treat for the senses with 6 Turning 4 Burning. Every track is entertaining and well-played, and you will be sorry it all ends, so play it again.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-MuzikMan.net Founder

December 6, 2023

Tracks:

1. Crazy Peace 5:26

2. Release Me 7:02

3. So Deep 5:28

4. Help Me Through This 8:29

5. Something's Wrong 4:25

6. It's Over 8:44

7. Karma 9:34

8. Take a Hike 11:24

9. Lucky Man 10:07

Progressive Folk Review: John Bassett-Unearth

Release Date: 31^stMarch 2014

Label:    Code 7 Stereohead Records

Website

John Bassett is not a name that is uppermost in many people’s minds in progressive music circles, unless you are aware of his involvement in KingBathmat, a progressive band with 7 albums under their belt, but I believe all of that is about to change with the release of Unearth, his debut solo album.

John is a multi-instrumentalist, singer songwriter and producer and is, as already mentioned, predominantly known for writing the music and producing the albums for his band, KingBathmat, since 2003.

Unearth is essentially an acoustic album and seems to have garnered a variety of comments about how best to describe the music, but the press release suggests that the album is a combination of progressive rock and psychedelic folk. It certainly is not overtly progressive if you view the genre as containing complex time signatures and the omnipresence of the mighty moog/mellotron, but the music does show unusual song structures, meter changes and deep, meaningful, powerful lyrics.

The album, Unearth, is certainly a solo album in almost every sense of the word, with John providing vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards and theramin, as well as sharing the drum stool with Nathan A Summers. Indeed, not content with that, John also recorded, produced, mixed and mastered the album.

Unearth is a 10 track album with a total playing time of around 45 minutes and the shortest track on show is the final track, “The Comedian,” clocking in at 3:31 minutes with the penultimate track, “Something That’s More Worthwhile” the longest on the album at 7:43 minutes.

The opening track to any album has a tremendous weight on its shoulders as it is responsible for the immediate gut reaction to the album. “Stay Away From The Dark” (4:08), which also has a stunning video to check out, is a superb introduction to the album, with an echoing piano and  a guitar that sounds double tracked. The lyrics, which are intense and hard hitting throughout, tell the story of a decision that requires to be made while the beautifully played acoustic guitar parts accentuate the melancholic nature that the music aurally paints. With lines such as “with your certificate, you’re qualified to shovel dirt” and “now don’t lose your spark, stay away from the dark,” the horns of a dilemma scenario is set out.

“Survival Rate” (4:47), “Nothing Sacred” (3:35) and the title track, “Unearth” (3:42) continue onward through this superbly intense musical journey. “Survival Rate” has little encounters with mellotron, keyboards and theramin, while “Nothing Sacred” is a more upbeat track with a stunning bass line and Hammond organ and “Unearth” has a rich sound, with superb acoustic guitars and the haunting line “you dig up the past and make things worse, and then you will see what you unearth.”

Another “soft” track in the form of “Pantomime” (5:42) follows with a sparse keyboard against acoustic guitars, drum and bass before there is a gentle, almost unobtrusive synth passage which seems to ebb and flow. This leads on to “Kylerhea” (4:41), an instrumental which has an insistent drumbeat with the acoustic guitar replacing John’s voice and also one of the most abrupt endings to a song I have heard. Everything fades to leave the insistent drum again, but it seems to stop before you expect it to.

“TV is God” (3:44) and “Keep Dear” (4:04) are very different tracks with the former showing drums, bass and a slightly discordant guitar which then sweeps into guitar passages interwoven with more subdued keyboards. “Keep Dear” sets up an almost countryside scenario with birdsong leading into some more superb acoustic guitar work. You become aware that there are two guitar parts and more unobtrusive keyboards as the song flows and returns to let the birdsong take the track out.

The penultimate track, “Something That’s More Worthwhile” (7:43) is an extended example of the music that has gone before. The keyboards simmer away behind that very pleasing acoustic guitar and the song moves along with some double tracking (?) of the vocals which get very close to becoming dissonant, but manage to neatly sidestep the trap. The sound builds with the electric guitar pushing the track along and there seem to be several cyclical guitar passages, each trying to reach the spotlight as the track ends.

The final track, “Comedian” (3:31) commences with another soundscape, this time using an alarm clock, singing birds and just the hint of a city wakening up. Subdued piano behind the voice and acoustic guitar set the scene for a relatively short track to bring the album to a close, returning to the bird song merging again into the alarm clock/bell.

Unearth is a gem of an album and seems to get it right on many different levels. The music is mesmerizing, melancholic, rich and flows effortlessly along, drawing the listener in; the voice has a characteristic uniqueness to it, in the way that Roger Chapman (Family), Peter Hammill (Van der Graaf Generator) and Mike Kershaw voices possess, and the lyrics are deep thoughtful and incisive. Subtle hooks, little riffs, passages, lines of lyrics, all quickly embed themselves in the mind after only one play, then get stronger with every consecutive listen. 

Both the stickers, “One to Buy” and “The Experience will last Forever” are emblazoned on this album and no-one should miss out on this release, so clear a space on your CD shelf/rack for John Bassett. This is yet another contender when the albums of the year start getting talked about.

5/5 Stars

Key Tracks: Stay Away From the Dark, Unearth, Something That’s More Worthwhile

Jim “The Ancient One” Lawson-Sr. Reviewer Prog Rock Music Talk
 

April 4, 2014

Tracks:
Stay Away From The Dark
Survival Rate
Nothing Sacred
Unearth
Pantomime
Kylerhea
Tv Is God
Keep Dear
Something That’s More Worthwhile
Comedian
 

 

Progressive Folk Review: John Bassett-Unearth

Release Date: 31^stMarch 2014

Label:    Code 7 Stereohead Records

Website

John Bassett is not a name that is uppermost in many people’s minds in progressive music circles, unless you are aware of his involvement in KingBathmat, a progressive band with 7 albums under their belt, but I believe all of that is about to change with the release of Unearth, his debut solo album.

John is a multi-instrumentalist, singer songwriter and producer and is, as already mentioned, predominantly known for writing the music and producing the albums for his band, KingBathmat, since 2003.

Unearth is essentially an acoustic album and seems to have garnered a variety of comments about how best to describe the music, but the press release suggests that the album is a combination of progressive rock and psychedelic folk. It certainly is not overtly progressive if you view the genre as containing complex time signatures and the omnipresence of the mighty moog/mellotron, but the music does show unusual song structures, meter changes and deep, meaningful, powerful lyrics.

The album, Unearth, is certainly a solo album in almost every sense of the word, with John providing vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards and theramin, as well as sharing the drum stool with Nathan A Summers. Indeed, not content with that, John also recorded, produced, mixed and mastered the album.

Unearth is a 10 track album with a total playing time of around 45 minutes and the shortest track on show is the final track, “The Comedian,” clocking in at 3:31 minutes with the penultimate track, “Something That’s More Worthwhile” the longest on the album at 7:43 minutes.

The opening track to any album has a tremendous weight on its shoulders as it is responsible for the immediate gut reaction to the album. “Stay Away From The Dark” (4:08), which also has a stunning video to check out, is a superb introduction to the album, with an echoing piano and  a guitar that sounds double tracked. The lyrics, which are intense and hard hitting throughout, tell the story of a decision that requires to be made while the beautifully played acoustic guitar parts accentuate the melancholic nature that the music aurally paints. With lines such as “with your certificate, you’re qualified to shovel dirt” and “now don’t lose your spark, stay away from the dark,” the horns of a dilemma scenario is set out.

“Survival Rate” (4:47), “Nothing Sacred” (3:35) and the title track, “Unearth” (3:42) continue onward through this superbly intense musical journey. “Survival Rate” has little encounters with mellotron, keyboards and theramin, while “Nothing Sacred” is a more upbeat track with a stunning bass line and Hammond organ and “Unearth” has a rich sound, with superb acoustic guitars and the haunting line “you dig up the past and make things worse, and then you will see what you unearth.”

Another “soft” track in the form of “Pantomime” (5:42) follows with a sparse keyboard against acoustic guitars, drum and bass before there is a gentle, almost unobtrusive synth passage which seems to ebb and flow. This leads on to “Kylerhea” (4:41), an instrumental which has an insistent drumbeat with the acoustic guitar replacing John’s voice and also one of the most abrupt endings to a song I have heard. Everything fades to leave the insistent drum again, but it seems to stop before you expect it to.

“TV is God” (3:44) and “Keep Dear” (4:04) are very different tracks with the former showing drums, bass and a slightly discordant guitar which then sweeps into guitar passages interwoven with more subdued keyboards. “Keep Dear” sets up an almost countryside scenario with birdsong leading into some more superb acoustic guitar work. You become aware that there are two guitar parts and more unobtrusive keyboards as the song flows and returns to let the birdsong take the track out.

The penultimate track, “Something That’s More Worthwhile” (7:43) is an extended example of the music that has gone before. The keyboards simmer away behind that very pleasing acoustic guitar and the song moves along with some double tracking (?) of the vocals which get very close to becoming dissonant, but manage to neatly sidestep the trap. The sound builds with the electric guitar pushing the track along and there seem to be several cyclical guitar passages, each trying to reach the spotlight as the track ends.

The final track, “Comedian” (3:31) commences with another soundscape, this time using an alarm clock, singing birds and just the hint of a city wakening up. Subdued piano behind the voice and acoustic guitar set the scene for a relatively short track to bring the album to a close, returning to the bird song merging again into the alarm clock/bell.

Unearth is a gem of an album and seems to get it right on many different levels. The music is mesmerizing, melancholic, rich and flows effortlessly along, drawing the listener in; the voice has a characteristic uniqueness to it, in the way that Roger Chapman (Family), Peter Hammill (Van der Graaf Generator) and Mike Kershaw voices possess, and the lyrics are deep thoughtful and incisive. Subtle hooks, little riffs, passages, lines of lyrics, all quickly embed themselves in the mind after only one play, then get stronger with every consecutive listen. 

Both the stickers, “One to Buy” and “The Experience will last Forever” are emblazoned on this album and no-one should miss out on this release, so clear a space on your CD shelf/rack for John Bassett. This is yet another contender when the albums of the year start getting talked about.

5/5 Stars

Key Tracks: Stay Away From the Dark, Unearth, Something That’s More Worthwhile

Jim “The Ancient One” Lawson-Sr. Reviewer Prog Rock Music Talk
 

April 4, 2014

Tracks:
Stay Away From The Dark
Survival Rate
Nothing Sacred
Unearth
Pantomime
Kylerhea
Tv Is God
Keep Dear
Something That’s More Worthwhile
Comedian