The drums are so dry and raw, it’s hard to believe this band went for this type of sound. It’s too bad Lion label mates LISTERIA didn't go for this drum sound. Their CD would have made my 2005 top 10 if they had. The vocals, guitar leads and some keyboards here and there make this band sound like the typical hair metal of the mid to late 80’s. Yet the pummeling rawness of the rhythm section, intelligent lyrics and the thickness of the guitars make it somewhat listenable and extremely baffling. Aside from the bad 80’s keyboards on a few tunes here we get some crazy Moog-style synth solos that don’t sound too different from KEITH EMERSON or that very last THIN LIZZY album “Thunder and Lightning”.

Each song kicks more ass than the previous track, like they had it planned that way. The guitar solos are a little too shreddery for my taste. Nothing here but fast arpeggios. They add nothing to the songs and take quite a bit away. All speed and very little feel or originality. It’s like they got that wankfest label mate of theirs LARS ERIC MATTSON on guitar. The bass guitar goes from a Duff Mckagen GNR P-bass pick style to fretless fusion fingers in a New York second. Nice. The lyrics seem to tie together each composition. This appears to a concept album of some sort. The words make me think of "The X-Files" to a degree. Two listens of this and I am intrigued. Not quite sure if it will hold up yet. Only the test of time may authenticate “Parallel Lives” after all.

- Herring

OFFICIAL SITE: myspace.com/sectionatheband

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