“Mr Regulator” is the new single from Slaves To Gravity, the latest Brit-rock hopefuls yearning to take their place alongside their counterparts from across the Atlantic.
And if Slaves To Gravity can write songs like this consistently, there’s no reason they shouldn’t rise in status and profile. “Mr Regulator” takes its cues from all the relevant touchstones of contemporary hard rock and wraps them up in a hook-laden package that roars through the room and departs long before it outstays its welcome.
The guitar work is crisp and melodic without skimping on the bite, and Tommy Gleeson’s vocals recall Chris Cornell in the early Soundgarden era, only with a British accent. Throw in an epic hook for a chorus and some sharp lead guitar, and “Mr Regulator” adds up to a great contemporary hard rock tune – though Slaves To Gravity still seem to be in search of a sound that is distinctly theirs and no one else’s.
B-side “Power Lines” is definitely not that sound, though, and by comparison to “Mr Regulator” I found it distinctly disappointing. Structurally, it’s a radio-friendly emo-tinged power-ballad - albeit delivered with more maturity than the Toni&Guy MySpace bands ever muster - and its inclusion here suggests a concerted attempt by Slaves To Gravity to garner some daytime radio play. On that basis I can’t fault it – independent bands have to do whatever they can for a greater chance of exposure – but it’s a very limp offering when held up against as solid and rocky a song as “Mr Regulator”.
All things being equal (and all bets hedged with the two contrasting styles of song) the “Mr Regulator” single shows every promise of bothering the upper reaches of the UK rock chart as successfully as its predecessors; Slaves To Gravity don’t seem as tied to the ground as their name might suggest.
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Posted in Music reviews |
Tags: Mr Regulator, rock, Slaves To Gravity
March 7th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
“Toni&Guy MySpace bands”
Oh, I like it.