Drama

From Bolton, Drama have secured themselves a great band name and like a few outfits from their hometown, they serve up a good line in pulsating rock. “ISO” combines riffing, almost classic harmonious rock with the head charging power of some stadium bound alternative heavy melodics. This is a tight attack of thickly wedged guitars and intelligent guitar solos. They’re beyond competent and look well organised and tailored. Even the strains of “Pretty Much” offer a consistency via infectious multi-layered guitars and Americanised metal pop – it’s a formula that can’t fail in the right hands and Drama certainly have the right number of fingers and thumbs. - Manchester Music

Bolton four-piece rock band DRAMA celebrate their return following a twelve month hiatus devoted to writing new material, with a free download of new single ‘ISO.’ And if this typifies the fruits of their labours this past year, then they could be in for an exciting 2011.

‘ISO’ has already been picked up by Classic Rock magazine who incorporated the song on their cover-mount CD for the May issue (#157) and as you can see from the video below, it is worthy of such accolade.

It may not exactly offer anything startlingly new, but it’s certainly a true, ballsy rock track. Redolent in places of early Gun (especially in the chorus, harmonies and drums) it chugs along on strong guitar riffs and understated solos, solidly underpinned by pounding drums and thumping bass lines. The vocals are ever so slightly rasping and melodic and altogether it’s one of those anthemic songs that will get right inside your head and have you metaphorically punching the air all day long.

I understand there will be an EP to follow as the summer months approach, with ‘Renee’ and ‘Pretty Much,’ featured. The first of these two is a bit of an exciting diversion. Very different from the basic rock of ‘ISO,’ it pretty much reflects the band’s name. It comes across as something between a stage production and a Freddie Mercury / Queen track, what with the dramatic little piano arpeggios in between the resounding guitars.

Full marks for trying something different – if this is a one-off track, then that’s quite brilliant. It shows a band willing to push the boundaries, but still operate within the accepted basic genre specifics.

‘Pretty Much,’ is my least favourite of the three tracks I’ve heard. Again, it still rocks, but this time with more ‘modern’ influences. The vocals are distorted in an electro fashion at various points and if I may be completely stereotypical in my views, it sounds more like something an American melodic rock band, aiming at the teen market would come up with. It’s OK, don’t get me wrong, but not as strong or different as either of the other two tracks mentioned.

Overall, though, DRAMA could be ones to watch out for this year. I don’t think you’ll have heard the last of them! - Loud Horizon

Drama certainly knows how to bring the rock n'roll and that is what they do on the new track "ISO." The band hails from Bolton, UK and since forming in 2007 have toured extensively to spread their rock sound. In 2009 they recorded their first promotional album Sex Love Lies, which got airplay and positive reviews, including from Bruce Dickinson on his BBC Radio 6 Rock Show.

After spending a year writing and recording, Drama debuted their new single "ISO" just last week. The song is a testament to pure rock. The guitar riff is solid and the solo, although short, is sure to blast your face off. The video is very simplistic, but the quality of the shots are nice. It also shows the bands energy, plus includes a sweet lamp. It all seriousness though, Drama is making sure rock n'roll is alive and well. - Oh So Fresh! Music

"The name of the band could suggest a close relationship with another band called Yes. However, don’t expect many art-rock experiences upon choosing the album “Sex Love Lies”. Under the name Drama, hides a band recently established by Ian Gordon (the listeners and readers of MLWZ should remember him from the solo album The Puppet Show, as well as associate him with the fact that he’s the brother of Gary Gordon from the band Magrathea), who with characteristic English humour describes sexual taboo, perversions and the fantasies of the British. You have to admit that this quite controversial unifying theme that runs throughout the record will draw the audience’s attention to this publication. We won’t, however, peer at British bedrooms like tabloids do and we will leave aside the whole literary aspect.

We will now focus on the music. The album comprises 8 tracks and the running time is less than 40 minutes. This is a short album for contemporary standards, but the style which Drama have developed is rooted in the remote past. To be precise, the early 70s, though it is closer to the traditions of early hard rock than symphonic rock.

Ian Gordon and company combine elements of classic rock with modern alternative music. Their style is based mainly on the guitar sound, which - to me - resembles Budgie. The dynamic and easy-to-remember chorus parts in "Factory Defaults" and "In Bed With Machines" indeed sound like the works of Burke Shelley's band. Those bits are sometimes filled with "dirty" typical Indie rock sounds (like in "In Bed with Machines") and sometimes, like in "Modern Love", are closer to pop or alternative music (as played by Polish "Myslovitz”). In two of their works - "Mercy" and "Red Rose" - Drama goes more towards the acoustic side, and Gordon's voice sounds like Axl Rose of Guns N' Roses. The biggest tribute paid to the age of classic hard rock music is the final piece "Fat Leg". When I listen to that song I can't help seeing Ozzy Osbourne singing with Led Zeppelin. That's how it sounds. However, you can't say it's some cheap fake, because Drama put their hearts into it and have a lot of interesting ideas combining past with present." - MLWZ

"Not to be confused with the prog band Drama that released an album on Cyclops a few years back, this Drama is a new band from the North West of England. Sex Love Lies is a comment on the state of modern society and tells stories about relationships and taboos. The songs are mostly short and to the point with some humour as well, and clocking in at just 38 minutes the album is refreshingly free of filler. Musically the band have a modern rock style. There are hints of Guns N' Roses (Red Rose - a fantastic track worthy of becoming a modern day classic) and Nickelback (Modern Love) alongside modern progressive elements reminiscent of Muse. This is the finest debut I've heard in a while."

Bartaby, Miles, Rock Magazine, August/September 2009: Page 39 - Classic Rock Society