Album Review

Adrenaline Mob - Omertá

            In my first album review here, I would like to dissect Omertá, the "new" album from Russell Allen and Mike Portnoy's lovechild Adrenaline Mob.  I put new in quotes because four of the album's 11 tracks can be found on last year's self-titled EP.  That issue not withstanding, the album as a whole is a solid heavy metal band from two of Prog's most famous names.

            If you pick up this album expecting The Rootof All Evil or The Odyssey, just put it right down and walk away.  This album is much heavier and riff-driven than Dream Theater or Symphony X.  Remember, this is coming from that guy that named his radio show The Odyssey and uses the opening note from Root in his opener and closer.

            The album is very balanced by greatness and mediocrity.  The best songs on the album are Undaunted, Hit the Wall, and Believe Me.  The problem there is that the later two songs are featured on last year's EP, so one of the seven new songs stands head and shoulders above the rest.

            The seventh track on the CD is a cover of a 1993 Duran Duran song called Come Undone.  Having been 10 when the original version came out, and having heard it basically everywhere in the spring and summer of 1993, I hate to admit the song is part of my childhood and sparks some kind of nostalgia.  The Adrenaline Mob cover does the original justice while adding the heavy metal edge that makes this album good.  Lzzy Hale from Halestorm is also featured on the track.

            Some of the tracks are spoiled by lackluster, unoriginal lyrics.  The biggest culprit of this is Feelin' Me.  The riffs are great, and the vocal melody is aggressive, but the lyrics aren't what I want to hear from this band.  While I know I said not to expect anything DT or SymphX like, Feelin' Me is just lyrically dreadful.  I expect those lyrics from a 16 year old in his first band.  As bad as Feelin' Me is lyrically, All on the Line is good.  It's one of two ballads of the album, but don't let that deter you.  All on the Line still features some great guitar work from Mike Orlando and a solo that shreds as well as a chorus that can be very infectious.  The second ballad is Angel Sky, and it's not terrible, but doesn't stick like a ballad should. 

            My least favorite track on the album was also my least favorite track from last year's EP, Psychosane.  The song just don't do much for me.  The verse riffs are very Zakk Wylde-esq, which I imagine was inspired by Rich Ward's presence in the band. 

            The longest song on the album is Hit the Wall, which, as mentioned earlier, was on the 2011 EP.  The next longest is the Duran Duran cover Come Undone.  The album's first single Undaunted is the longest new song at 4:44.

            The original EP featured Rich Ward (Stuck Mojo, Fozzy) and Paul DiLeo (Fozzy), but neither are credited on Omertá.  Mike Orlando (Tred, Sonic Stomp) plays guitar and bass on the album.  He is an incredibly talented guitar and can seriously shred.  He plays Charvel guitars, which I have a soft spot for.  John Moyer (ex-The Union Underground, Distubed) joined after the album was completed.  I know Disturbed gets crapped on for being Nu-Metal (and nu-Metal does disserve to be crapped on) but Moyer can play a mean bass. 

            Overall, I rate this album a 70.  It's above average, but not outstanding. 

Track-By-Track ratings

1 - Undaunted                 9

2 - Psychosane               5         

3 - Indifferent                  6

4 - All on the Line           6

5 - Hit the Wall               9

6 - Feelin' Me                 4

7 - Come Undone           7.5

8 - Believe Me                9

9 - Down to the Floor     7.5

10 - Angel Sky               6.5

11 - Freight Train           7.5

TOTAL                          77

77/110 = 70