Band: System OverloadAlbum: Turn the HourglassGenre: Metal/ Rock/AlternativeLabel: N/A
3 stars
“Turn the Hourglass” is an album that will simply leave you breathless. It’s absolutely amazing to see just how developed and mature System Overload has become since the release of their last CD, “From the Shadows” in 2005.
Being one of the highest drawing bands in the Dallas area, System Overload was faced with the pressure of releasing an amazing CD that would back up their success and hopefully earn them a record deal. They have certainly done that with “Turn the Hourglass”.
This “melodic-hardcore” mixture of screaming and heartfelt lyrics and amazingly talent-filled instrumentals is sure to be in your CD players for days!
It is rare to find an album that contains more than two songs that could be released on their own as singles. Well, “Turn the Hourglass”, I think, has five. Those being “Disease”, “Shattered”, Decomposing Memories”, Hollow” and “Acid Rain”
I believe the reason I like the music of System Overload so much is that it appeals to so many different types of rock crowds. With Travis Buck on vocals, you get the screaming that makes your hair stand on end and leaves your parents asking “What is that noise you’re listening to?” as well as sing-alongable (that’s right I just made up a word) lyrics. The choruses are those that you can leave the club repeating to yourself or singing in the car with the stereo blasting.
Dustin Baugh and David Cornejo offer up, in my opinion, some of the best guitar playing around. Whether it is the riffs that make your eyes widen or the bridge that makes your blood run cold, these guys know how to play and leave you wanting more.
Bassist Andrew Penland knows how to add the melodious heartbeat to the hardest of songs, such as “Parasite”, as well as keep the deep mood of the ballad “Disease”. His addition to those eye-widening riffs and blood curdling bridges make this album that much more complete.
With Travis Turner on drums, you receive some blasts that will knock your socks off. The drum solos and incorporated drum fills will leave your bass-filled speakers begging for mercy.
With songs like “Decomposing Memories”, “Shattered”, “Acid Rain”, Subside”, and “Parasite” blowing away your ear drums and causing you to raise your horns in salute, put together with more melodic tunes such as “Hollow” and “Disease”, this album is sure to be one that is not easily looked over by the rock world.
Whether you are looking for hardcore, head-slamming, scream filled music, or from-the-soul sang lyrics, which can be contagiously memorized, this album has it all.
You can go and preview a group of the songs from “Turn the Hourglass” and read more about System Overload at www.myspace.com/systemoverloadmetal.
System Overload will be releasing “Turn the Hourglass” on April 14th at Curtain Club in Deep Ellum.
-CG Rockstar