DEEP RISING is a Progressive Melodic Rock group that has members from the Jamesport area, and points west. The song writing is solid throughout their releases and the playing is consistently tight and precise, as is the want of prog in general......At the same time, however, there is an immediate accessibility not often found in prog influenced music......just a touch of that 80's hard rock we all remember.....but not too much. The vocals and choices in melody are both top notch. Nick Kerzner shines on the vocals with a strong, emotive voice that suits the music wonderfully. The lyrics are thought provoking and just plain catchy at times.
As of this moment, the band has 3 releases to their credit. I have not managed to get a hold of their 1st release yet, BUT I did manage to get my hands on their 2 most recent efforts; SHARDS (2004), and TRUTH BE TOLD (2007). SHARDS is a 14 track effort with solid songs throughout. It features a wealth a mid-tempo, thought provoking songs with a nice mix of more agressive and exploratory numbers infused in the mix. 'Unfamiliar' is an up tempo rocker with a catchy melody and chorus that hits you with a surprise off-beat break. The programming on the track 'Kitesfly' suits the song with it's cool verse riff that reminds me of the Masters of Reality and Lenny Kravitz at the same time. The airy chorus provides a nice change in texture. 'One For The Road' is a standout among the mid tempo tunes with it's use of keyboards and an exceptionally strong vocal. 'Eyes Closed' is a driving riff with a darker edge to it that gets the blood flowing. Another hard rocker with instantly catchy riffage is 'Phoenix'. A personal favorite is 'Cloud-9'. It's starts off slow and builds to a rockin' lead that comes back down to the harmonies before it kicks the jams in again and let's it fly one last time. 2007's TRUTH BE TOLD represents a 3 year growth in the band and the difference can be seen. The signature sound is still there, but there seems to be a bit more leaning towards the guitars on this CD. I like it, a lot. At times I feel like I'm listening to a Kings-X/Tesla hybrid, yet it is undeniably original. 'X' is a song that captures that feel. It rocks, it jams, it has lyrics and melody that make you want to scream in the car while you're driving. 'Nothing Means Nothing' starts off with a slower verse, but the song breaks into a quirky riff that leads into the most extensive jam on the disc. I'd imagine every girl that hears 'Cheater' instantly sings along. It has that sing-a-long quality and a subject matter that almost everyone can take to heart. A true, dyed in the wool, prog rock journey is the tune, 'Xel-Ha'. The song echoes the sentiments of Pink Floyd and relays a hard rockin' Yes style vibe when it kicks into gear.
The band will be releasing it's newest disc in December 2010 and plans on gigging extensively to support it. With a little luck, we'll get them out east for a show this winter.......
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