DROPBOX
I haven't been this amped up about a new band in a long time. Look, I'll be honest, I really love it when we get sent new music to review; very often, we're getting advance copies of CDs we really want to hear, and other times, we get CDs from unsigned acts looking for some exposure. Easily, fifty percent of the music we're sent is utter shit.
DROPBOX, however, is NOT.
The band, which is made up mostly from New Jersey-ites, and one Mass-hole, Lee Richards (who was the original guitarist in GODSMACK), has put together one of the best debut discs I've listened to in a while. I'm not even sucking up because singer
John Kosco was cool and put up with our stupid interview questions, this CD is that solid.
The lead-off single, "Wishbone" (
CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT THE VIDEO) kicks off with a great riff that sounds like some of those slower PANTERA-esque grinding riffs (think "Drag the Waters"...only faster). I'm obviously not the only fella who likes it, because it's the theme to the
Transformers PS2 game.
The vocal harmonies in "I feel fine" are very reminiscent of something you'd hear in a Godsmack disc, but that's not surprising, consider how much gratitude these guys owe Godsmack frontman Sully Erna for making Dropbox the first act signed to his
Realign imprint. You'll catch those Godsmack-isms throughout the
Dropbox debut, but the band stands on its own just fine.
Kosco's voice is huge. The guy can belt out a low, grinding growl, that brings to mind someone twice his size. Richards' riff-writing is exceptional; the guy seems to make memorable riffs and their creation very easy (when of course, it isn't).
This band has already been on tour with Godsmack, and they're about to head out with DROWNING POOL and FLAW, so there's something to be said for getting a helping a hand from a guy like Sully. Let's hope they can keep it up for a few more discs.
