Reactions
Tempe, Arizona, United States | SELF
Music
Press
These guys have their hearts in exactly the right places about music, local community, and honesty about your art. Their music definitely shows the passion they have for what their doing, straight-up rock with some melodic parts and heavier breakdowns. I’ll be excited to watch them crystallize their sound over the coming years. - Earn it yourself, Sarah Saturday
To start things off, let me just say that Reactions’ songwriting sensibility is superb. The hooks on songs such as The Ghost of Me and Tendencies is spectacular. After not listening to the record for two days, the songs are still stuck in my head. The guitar riffs are fast and melodic without too much complication. The choruses are catchy as all get out, and there is just enough use of electronic modeling/programming.
These guys have it all; pop hooks for those who want to dance, swift and progressive breakdowns with spot on metal vocalization, and buttery smooth clean vocals. I am drawing guitar riffs that Chevelle could have written on their latest album, especially on songs like It’s Not Over. In a different fashion, the band can make hits just like A Day To remember. Tendencies is a perfect example, the guys in Reactions create this wonderful pop punk vibe throughout most of the song, only changing things up for a breakdown that is perfect for any metal fan. It is forward moving, and doesn’t seem like a random break for the addition of that part in the song. The riff is more than just dropped tuned guitars chugging away at open chords.
My only complaint for the album, which is minor at that, is that the album may jump around genres a little bit too much. I really appreciate musicians who have formed their own identity and space in the music world. Now, this identity does take a good amount of time to establish, obviously more than one album. I just hope the guys in Reactions move forward from this, and aim to tighten up their sound in further recordings.
Overall I really liked this record. It was very entertaining and full of energy. Only at certain points did I feel a bit lost, but thats totally understandable, especially when a band creates their first major release. Everyone needs a starting point and obviously artists turn towards their favorite bands. This becomes less and less apparent as a band matures, which I am positive Reactions will do.
- Tyler Schmidt
Discography
Reactions - Bones Single 3/22/11
Reactions - Ghost of Me Single 5/15/11
Reactions - Tendencies Single 8/31/11
Reactions - Under My Skin EP 10/18/11
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Bio
Emerging from the scorching desert of Arizona, comes Reactions, one of the hottest new Arizona Rock bands. Reactions, made up of “secret” members from previously well known Independent bands, have already made a big impact on the Arizona music scene. Constructed of driving rhythms, catchy hooks and hard hitting breakdowns, Reactions has created a new blend of Rock and Post Hardcore.
With parents who wrote, taught and studied music, Cook was arguably destined to start a band. In 2009, he founded the pop-punk group Sound The City. After releasing three EPs, playing over 100 shows, and touring with the likes of Every Avenue, The Secret Handshake, There For Tomorrow and more, it became apparent that something wasn’t right. The band called it quits in 2010, but it wasn’t long before Cook began writing music again.
Perhaps according to plan, Reactions was formed from the ashes of Sound The City and Minnesota Hardcore band, Of Salt & Swine, triggering a drastic change in musical direction. The band’s debut EP, Under My Skin— produced by Dan Parker (A Change of Pace, The Summer Set, Hello Hollywood) — exhibits listener-friendly rock ‘n’ roll, infectiously laced pop, mixed with the hard hitting components of Post-Hardcore. Composed of five memorable tracks, the album is a mere preview of what’s to come from Reactions. Under My Skin, releasing 10.18.11, completely for free, is already stirring their audience’s attention. With a refined sound and a fresh start, the group is sure to evoke its namesake.
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