Flashback CD Review #71 - Kabang - Degeneration

This review was written for the Rock Is Life.com website in 2006.

Kabang
Degeneration
Tribro Records - 2005
http://www.kabangonline.com

What's The 4-1-1?

The second album from the Florida-based rockers serves notice that their brand of heavy alternative hard rock is set to break out on the national stage.

Genre

Hard Rock / Rock / Alternative Rock

The Good

There is a really nice rough sound to Rob Dexter's vocals. It serves the band well in that it let's them stand a bit apart from the pack. Kabang knows how to throw in a solid hook to make a song instantly appealing.

The songs "Sacrifice" and "The Solitude" are the best examples of this. The guitar work from Steve Bell is generally pretty good but on "What Now" he really outdoes himself. While listening to that song the guitar line really drove the track and I thought that it would make a great song to have playing while speeding down a long and open highway. The track "Bleed These Tears" combines a nice melodic tempo with a rather powerful set of metal screaming while the lyrics touch upon the issue of "cutting".

The Bad

The song lyrics are not included in the CD booklet. You have to go to the band's website for that. If you leave that admittedly minor point aside, there's nothing much to report on this album in regards to being "bad".

The Verdict

I'll admit that when I first got this CD in the package of review material, I saw the name of the band and thought "Oh, this doesn't bode well with a dumb name like Kabang". It just goes to show you that first impressions are not necessarily correct.

Kabang, in the space of just over 33 minutes, give quite the major accounting for themselves. This is a superb album that combines the right mixture of rock and metal with a dash of melody. Do yourself a favor, get your hands on Degeneration and give it a spin. You won't regret it.

Did You Know?

Kabang co-produced this album alongside Grammy-winning producer Jason Corsaro. He's worked with Soundgarden and metal legends Motorhead among his credits.

Rating: 4 out of 5