It should be no surprise that the fresh-faced Aces High (http:///www.aceshighmusic.com) know how to turn up the knobs. That's the easy part, and you expect that from a group of young men with guitars. But Aces High aren't just about volume; in fact, their self-titled debut isn't as aggressive as you might expect from such youthful rockers. These lads are actually quite tuneful, delivering a collection of AOR-fueled numbers that showcase a new band on the rise.
Aces High have studied the genre well. They are well-versed in the legends such as Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Blue Oyster Cult and more contemporary rockers like Pearl Jam, Metallica, and Silverchair. Because of their adolescent features, you know a Silverchair comparison would be just around the corner. Sure enough, "On Thin Ice" and "Shades of Grey" wouldn't have been out of place on Silverchair's debut with their melodic Kurt Cobain-ish vocal harmonies and grungy leads. But these boys do it better than most, injecting a '70s-baked guitar-hero attitude amidst the teenage angst. "Breaking Rose" has slamming Metallica-esque power chords that should wake up the neighborhood while "Shattered" exposes some stunning versatility, shifting from an R.E.M. mid-tempo jangle to crunchy hard rock. Wow.
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I'm curious to see how Aces High will evolve on future recordings. Right now, cheers to a solid initial blast.
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