Sonic Bliss

Rafer Guzmán
WITH THE BAND
Sonic boom of rock is bliss


October 27, 2005
Why would a band saddle itself with a goofy name like Sonic Bliss? There's only one explanation: The guys were too busy rocking out to think of anything better.

On their new disc "Metamorphosis," the five dudes in Sonic Bliss bang their heads so hard that they lose a few ideas - and for the better.

The first thing they lost was shame: So what if KISS and AC/DC went out of style 25 years ago? It all sounds fresh in Sonic Bliss' meaty hands. The second thing to go was self-seriousness: The CD's kick-off track, "The Human Race," begins with a Slash-ing guitar solo, launches into a locomotive rhythm and ends with the sound of a giant atomic bomb. Yes!

In other words, "Metamorphosis," recorded at High Point studios in Huntington, is an excellent slice of parking-lot metal meant to be played with the windows down and the volume up.

From start to finish, it's full of theatrical guitar riffs from Roger Petersen and Kerry Agnew backed by the pounding rhythms of drummer Charlie Martinez and bassist Glenn Roberts. Singer Rene Berrios flavors his basic, gut-bucket style with a hint of '90s grunge.

They are all veteran Long Island musicians, and local legend Don Casale helped produce the disc. Clearly, these guys remember when metal bands actually cared about writing good songs. "Believe" charges forward with bluster and plenty of boogie; "All Night Long" is a KISS-worthy party anthem; there's even a snappy pop-metal tune called "K. Marie."

The disc contains a few more ballads than necessary, though it's hard to resist the macho weeper "After All." Sonic Bliss is best when it has one foot on the monitors and a guitar lodged in its collective crotch.

If you've been looking for a new disc to play during those late-night beer runs, you just found it. Check out the band at www.sonicbliss.net.

Send e-mail to

rafer.guzman

@newsday.com.
- Newsday

WITH THE BAND
Be thankful for the music


Rafer Guzman

November 24, 2005

Before your post-turkey nap this afternoon, take a moment to give thanks for all the good things in the Long Island music scene.

For instance:

Live music venues that are still open. The closing of The Downtown came as a blow to every band that aspired to one day play that stage. But The Crazy Donkey is stepping in to fill the void, bringing local acts to open for national touring artists and assembling multi-band bills such as the one on Dec. 27 with From Autumn to Ashes, As Tall As Lions and The Sleeping - all locals.

True, the Donkey isn't as committed to music as The Downtown was. On most nights it has a girls-gone-wild vibe, which is what pays the bills.

But check out the large stage, clear sight lines and decent sound system, and you'll find plenty to be grateful for.

Signs of intelligent life. New York hipsters think Long Island is a wasteland of cover bands, while indie labels see it as a bottomless well of screamo acts.

And like many stereotypes, these have some truth. Then along comes a band like Beat Radio, with its wistful indie-rock melodies and thoughtful lyrics.

Or the elusive collective With Every Idle Hour, whose shimmering guitars are a breed apart. "Or Sonic Bliss, a group that manages to make pop-metal sound new again."

Creativity on the Island is alive and well.

Good friends. Bands can lose members in all sorts of ways: creative differences, business disputes, personality clashes, girlfriend problems. The band known as Bayside lost drummer John Holohan in the worst possible way: He was killed in a car accident.

Makes all those arguments about missed rehearsals and who gets to ride shotgun seem fairly petty, doesn't it? Next time you're slugging it out with a band mate, be thankful you're both alive to make music.

Send e-mail to raferguzman@gmail.com.

Copyright 2005 Newsday Inc.
- NEWSDAY NOV. 24

Sonic Bliss’s demo-CD is a professional piece of work ready for prime time. The band has invested time and money to produce a professional package all around. The songs are focused around a clean rock sound with some hard rocking influences. Given the membership which comprises former Anthrax and Dee Snider guys fans would probably expect something nearer to those groups. Instead, Sonic Bliss is mostly about Creed, Pearl Jam and Monster Magnet. This can be on radio any time of day anywhere. Metal fans would not like this, there are also several slow songs in between the twelve tunes, although Sonic Bliss is not going after that crowd anyway. That is fine, except the band may cut back on the ballads, better image with some long hair flowing and keep going with the same serious attitude. The website is www.sonicbliss.net and the e-mail is r53roknrol@aol.com. - Sheila Wes Det
- Metallian / Heavy Metal is Better than Music

SONIC BLISS - Metamorphosis
Indie

Release Date: Unknown

by: JEREMY JULIANO

Email: jeremy@metalexpressradio.com

write/read comments

With the release of Metamorphosis, Sonic Bliss is launching a campaign for world notoriety. The New York rockers have a 12-song disc that is ripe with hard rocking songs, and it even includes a strong ballad in there to show diversity. With song titles like “Incoming,” “Free of the Noose,” and “Sneak Attack,” you know you are in for a ride.

There doesn’t seem to be a lot information about Sonic Bliss, and their Web site is woefully devoid any type of biography or history of the band. Fortunately, Metal Express Radio is here to discuss the music, so it's time to get to it.

For the record, Sonic Bliss sounds like a very good band with very competent songwriting ability. The songs are very catchy with strong choruses and simple, yet effective, rhythms. Vocalist Rene Berrios has a strong voice with a lot of depth. The rest of the band, including guitarist Roger Petersen, second guitarist Kerry Agnew, and bassist Glen Roberts sound as if they have more than average command of their instruments. Drummer Charlie Martinez sounds like he may have some timing issues, and a slow right hand, but it is hardly noticeable.

The songs are so catchy that they quickly become comfortable and familiar; eerily so. Despite the strong sense of melody and catchy hooks, you may find yourself preoccupied with trying to figure out who reminds you of Sonic Bliss. The songs aren’t rip-offs, but if you had to venture a guess, you might think that Sonic Bliss probably pays the bills as a cover band and they borrow a bit liberally from the artists they mimic. Or, maybe they really have tapped into a vein that puts together a sound that many already love. Even Rene’s singing seems to encompass a wide variety of vocalists. It’s amazing, really, to have such a wide range like his. Unfortunately, he doesn’t seem to have a voice of his own just yet.

“The Human Race” has a Stone Temple Pilots feel to it, and Rene sounds like a dead-on Scott Weiland for the first verse. “All Night Long” finds him sounding a bit like Paul Stanley. The music feels the same way. “Believe” has a familiar rhythm like Ozzy’s “S.A.T.O.”; not exact, but enough to make you think hard about it.

The disc is definitely worth checking out; the songs are good, if not a bit borrowed. This is a good first effort and shows a lot of promise. Rene has a lot of power and shows an uncanny ability to envelop a wide variety of vocalizations. Once this band really embraces what defines Sonic Bliss, there will be a new contender in the Metal market.


- Metal Express Radio

SONIC BLISS - Metamorphosis
Indie

Release Date: Unknown

by: JEREMY JULIANO

Email: jeremy@metalexpressradio.com

write/read comments

With the release of Metamorphosis, Sonic Bliss is launching a campaign for world notoriety. The New York rockers have a 12-song disc that is ripe with hard rocking songs, and it even includes a strong ballad in there to show diversity. With song titles like “Incoming,” “Free of the Noose,” and “Sneak Attack,” you know you are in for a ride.

There doesn’t seem to be a lot information about Sonic Bliss, and their Web site is woefully devoid any type of biography or history of the band. Fortunately, Metal Express Radio is here to discuss the music, so it's time to get to it.

For the record, Sonic Bliss sounds like a very good band with very competent songwriting ability. The songs are very catchy with strong choruses and simple, yet effective, rhythms. Vocalist Rene Berrios has a strong voice with a lot of depth. The rest of the band, including guitarist Roger Petersen, second guitarist Kerry Agnew, and bassist Glen Roberts sound as if they have more than average command of their instruments. Drummer Charlie Martinez sounds like he may have some timing issues, and a slow right hand, but it is hardly noticeable.

The songs are so catchy that they quickly become comfortable and familiar; eerily so. Despite the strong sense of melody and catchy hooks, you may find yourself preoccupied with trying to figure out who reminds you of Sonic Bliss. The songs aren’t rip-offs, but if you had to venture a guess, you might think that Sonic Bliss probably pays the bills as a cover band and they borrow a bit liberally from the artists they mimic. Or, maybe they really have tapped into a vein that puts together a sound that many already love. Even Rene’s singing seems to encompass a wide variety of vocalists. It’s amazing, really, to have such a wide range like his. Unfortunately, he doesn’t seem to have a voice of his own just yet.

“The Human Race” has a Stone Temple Pilots feel to it, and Rene sounds like a dead-on Scott Weiland for the first verse. “All Night Long” finds him sounding a bit like Paul Stanley. The music feels the same way. “Believe” has a familiar rhythm like Ozzy’s “S.A.T.O.”; not exact, but enough to make you think hard about it.

The disc is definitely worth checking out; the songs are good, if not a bit borrowed. This is a good first effort and shows a lot of promise. Rene has a lot of power and shows an uncanny ability to envelop a wide variety of vocalizations. Once this band really embraces what defines Sonic Bliss, there will be a new contender in the Metal market

- Metal Express Radio