Ligion is a band out of Nashville, Tenn. that is currently on tour with Saliva and Crossfade. I saw them in concert at the beginning of this month, and got a pre-released copy of their brand new CD which hits stores March 20.
The first track on the album called, “One My Way” starts off mellow and slow, but has the drums kick in just as your starting to want more. With a good ear the drummer, Johannes, has interesting beats. The snare is somewhat metallic sounding, yet the drums are deep and drawing.
Lead singer, Ligion, has a steady voice and makes you wanna dance. The guitars between June and Seth counter each other and the vocals very well. They also perform harmonies with Ligion himself, in perfect tune. This song is very radio, and sounds a bit like The Killers.
Song 3, “Get Over Me” is still very upbeat. However, this is where the CD starts to head south. Singer, Ligion, sounds like he is oversinging at times using tons of vibrato and strength. Which is good for the passion side of music but the vocals just sound off and funny in this track. The second verse is better vocally then the first using a little less intensity.
The guitars are still countering each other in the melodies well. The bass has its own melody line, and the drums are still on beat. What a shocker, it’s still very radio. But this time it doesn’t sound quite ready for the radio.
Track 4, “Reach” is still very off, yet very on at the same time. It has a very punk sounding melody, with very heavy almost metalish vocals. The break sounds like a normal Ligion song (ready for radio play), but the verses seem almost out of place and a little off kilter.
I was almost wondering if it was going to turn around and get better when it did. Track 5, “Pins and Needles” is their first slow song. It is beautiful and almost haunting. It follows the same line as the classic slow song, of verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus, end. But all in all still makes you want to sway to the music.
“Pins and Needles” is one of those songs that you get your lighter out to and hug the person standing next to. In a concert you would be screaming, “I love you man” half way through it. And yet, still has the same Ligion mark, of radio play.
This whole CD continues like the first six tracks. Half of them great I would buy this CD for only half the songs. The other half make you wanna scream and leave you wondering, “What were they thinking?” With its very radio sound, and almost a mix of old school Green Day and a dash of Velvet Revolver, this band is definitely worth checking out.