New bands are a dime a dozen today. With more music outlets than we know what to do with, new artists are all but accessible. There is a consistent heavy traffic of mediocre bands coming and going with little substance in between. Of course all is not lost as there are exceptions to the rule and one of these are A Rebel Few.
The band’s latest effort, “As The Crow Flies” consists of a track list were each song delivers with the power of a roundhouse kick that would see Chuck Norris proud. The start of which being album opener ‘Born Again’ as its thick, mid-tempo groove riffs cherry topped with Wah-pedal fills sends a chill of grunge familiarity down the spine. The album continues down a road of seedy dive bar rock songs with the more up-tempo ‘Rebel Few’ and ‘Dyin’ Breed’ before we hit some of the heavy weights. In both tone and Raposo’s moody vocals, ‘Said & Done’ is similar to that of Creed’s “Human Clay” era which is strictly meant as complimentary.
The strong and standout track ‘Who Knows’ follows suit but filters out the influence more so and A Rebel Few are at their strongest! This may have been a more suited choice for leading single with the less vibrant ‘Bitter Man’ feeling more like a Zico Chain B-side than the best material this band have to offer. The album closes on ‘Pure Revolution’ and both Black Stone Cherry and Theory of a Deadman almost ooze from a stereo speaker each.
‘As The Crow Flies’ is an album that is all kinds of fun! There are both moments you will find a new band breaking ground as well as fond nostalgia that cuts through by influence. Are the band reinventing the wheel of rock n’ roll as we currently know it? Probably not. The likelihood of this album cementing a place in jukeboxes worldwide for years to come is slim! However,what A Rebel Few have achieved in doing is admirably and respectively blending influence with originality. As they fall into the small category of exceptional exceptions, there is little doubt that A Rebel Few will not be one too watch. You will be wearing their patch on your jacket in no time!