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A Place Called
Rage was formed by four professional musicians who chose to record an
album strictly for themselves based on similar musical preferences and
appreciation for more than one musical style.
These four musicians are guitarist Al Pitrelli
(Alice Cooper, Asia, Savatage, Trans-Siberia Orchestra, Megadeth); drummer Chuck
Bonfonte (Michael Bolton, Saraya, Flesh & Blood, Morning Wood); bassist
Danny Miranda (Blue Oyster Cult); and vocalist Tommy Farese (Gail Force, April
Lawton, Trans-Siberian Orchestra).
According to Farese, they originally formed the
band under the name Ethel Mertz, and played live whenever everyone was off the
road. Now, under the Place Called Rage moniker, the band will release their
debut album on their own label of the same name.
In the band's biography Cat Matheos states that
to "come up with a description of what they sound like, one would have to
have an encyclopedia list of past influences, and even then, you'll probably
draw the same conclusion I did, it sounds like no one else, but them ...(A PLACE
CALLED RAGE)." Upon further review, it is easy to agree with that
summation.
Their twelve-track display of blues inspired
rock offers a classic sound driven by guitar and bold vocals reminiscent of
bands like the Badlands, and more recently, the Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band.
Though, surprisingly, the vocals of Farese (a New Yorker), can most easily be
compared to the likes of David Coverdale (Whitesnake, Deep Purple, Coverdale/Page).
And though it may be a stretch, a hint of a Rod Stewart comparison may be drawn,
especially with the addition of keyboard contributions from Gary Corbet, Mark
Mangold, and Pitrelli on the album with "Jenny Doesn't Live Here
Anymore," being the most prominent.
Place Called Rage's debut album kicks off
rockin' with one of the band's strongest songs, which they shockingly had
actually planned to scratch from the album, "Know Where You've Been,"
and continues on with the title track, "Place Called Rage" which
offers a funky guitar driven groove from Pitrelli. Other highlights include
"What These Eyes Have Seen," which offers a Zeppelin vibe and
"Chained to a Maniac" which is guaranteed to rock you hard and get
your foot tapping.
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