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JoeSixPack – The Inevitability of Armageddon : Dying Words of a Righteous Man
Review by: Rhonda Readence
JoeSixPack, a hard rock trio haling from Austin Texas, is made up of Jonathan Uhl on vocals and guitar, Brandon Applegate on bass and vocals, and Eli Good on drums. Their six-song EP titled The Inevitability of Armageddon: Dying Words of a Righteous Man bears influences of various genres from prog rock to metal. Drawing comparisons as diverse as Lamb Of God and The Mars Volta, there will surely be something for everyone on this EP.
It begins with “Dr. Watson Fails at Deductive Logic,” which starts with some killer guitar work. As this track unfolds, there are various genres being molded into one. The overall essence is one of prog rock, but there is also a significant hard rock influence with a punk flavor. JoeSixPack blends genres effortlessly and the musicianship is rife with talent. The vocals are strong for the most part, but there are times, particularly during the slower section in the middle of the song, when they are slightly too loud and a bit off key. Aside from this small flaw, the track is intricate with many changes of tempo and exceptional instrumentation.
“Go Go Gadget Murder Weapon” is a conglomeration of various tempos, rhythms and heavy vocals. The listener may not be sure what to focus on first and this may make it difficult to focus on anything at all. With so much happening in this piece, it’s best to take the song as a sum of its whole and simply enjoy it. This track also has significant tempo changes and JoeSixPack pulls them off exceedingly well. The sound quality is very good and the effects at the end of the song are spacey, spectral and perfect. A study in controlled chaos, this song will fascinate and enthrall. “Operation Moon Freedom” continues the enchanting musical journey of this EP with impressive guitar work and an exceptionally melodic rhythm. This will likely be a fan favorite. The members of JoeSixPack come together well in this piece and the smooth transitions and extraordinary musicianship throughout make this a very solid offering.
“Dying Words of a Righteous Man” is seemingly an extension of the preceding track with a similar rhythm and tempo. The vocals are delivered with an almost death metal growl that does not always compliment the graceful guitar work and rhythm section. At times it appears that JoeSixPack can’t decide if they want to be a metal band, a prog rock band, or something else entirely. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it can make the listener wonder what avenue this band wants to travel. “Two-Face Pez Dispenser” is a whirlwind of what this band does best, with varying tempos and rhythms all taking place within the same song, sometimes within the same measure. It’s hectic and chaotic and absolutely wonderful. Controlled chaos is precisely the term that can be used to describe much of the music that this collective offers. The vocals go from metal screaming to a more conventional method mid-song and then revert back to screaming. Perhaps JoeSixPack should consider the softer delivery on more of their offerings, as it seems to go better with their music. The EP closes with “They’re Made of Meat,” a signature JoeSixPack song complete with screaming guitar work, excellent drumming and bass playing, and a wide range of rhythms. The lyrics are difficult to interpret for much of the EP and this track is no exception.
The gentlemen of JoeSixPack are extremely talented musicians, of this there is no doubt. However, they seem to want to traverse more roads than perhaps they are comfortable with, which leads to a sound that is not quite metal, not quite rock, and not exactly prog. It’s a combination of all of those genres that come together to make something wholly unclassifiable. While this is perhaps what JoeSixPack is striving for, a more conventional method of music-making may better suit this band. This being said, there is something else to be said for diversity and the creative flow that accompanies it. JoeSixPack is a very diverse band and their creative vision commands respect.
