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Keith Colhoun, general manager of CJTR Radio in Regina, Saskatchewan quotes: "I wanted to drop you a quick line to tell you how much I'm enjoying 'Love and War".I've added 'Just Need Time' (My current favorite track) and 'Alive Again' to our automation system, so those songs will be getting occasional spins during unattended hours for the next 5 years, at least. I'll likely add more in the future as well. Congrats to you and the rest of your band on a great record! May, 2008 - Keith Colhoun
'Canada's Sonic Orchid is one of the bands that is looking retro at good, old fashioned rock-n-roll yet stepping it up slightly to bring it up to date while utilizing some of the things that made the original rock so sustainable and allowed it to ride on top of the heap for so long; great musicianship, talent, well written and structured songs and material that makes you want to listen,' says Bob Donovan. 'Don't get me wrong, Sonic Orchid's music isn't old, rehashed material that you've heard before, its new and intriguing with elements taken from influences of the past and built upon. Sonic Orchid offers up what is truly powerful yet melodic and progressive material that you can follow, rock to, and totally enjoy.' - Bob Donovan-NorthEastInTune Magazine
‘Love And War’ is the new CD from Canadian band
SONIC ORCHID. The band have released the album themselves and its rich and complex in style, perhaps even progressive in parts, whilst other songs like ‘Hold On’come across like Lana Lane with a more commercial edge and perfect for radio. The star of the show is singer Christina Gasparic who offers a varied vocal performance. The bands music can be described as a mix of Spock’s Beard and Rush mixed with a folk and new age influences. Brad Evanochko on guitar/vocals, C.J. Cook on bass and Grant Frew on drums/vocals join Christina to complete the lineup.
Christina started in the music biz very young in an “all family” band and played her first gig at eight years of age at a folk festival. She is personally inspired by God. ‘I do believe in a higher power,’ she says. ‘We are all spiritual energies who live on this earth for a purpose and to learn from our mistakes in order to live peacefully on the Other Side. I try to balance the three-wellness energies: mind, body, and spirit and combine them with my music.’ The lyrical approach to the album showcases a very personal theme for Christina. ‘Where you are exposing your deepest thoughts, emotions and personal situations you become quite venerable. The songs are about life and its situations. I write as I would in a journal, reliving past experiences, both positive and negative, and I write about other people’s struggles and accomplishments. Loss of love, gaining love, addiction, obsession and war are a few of the themes in these songs. The listeners can take each song and relate the themes to their own lives, by either reminiscing or making them aware of their present situation,’ she explains.
The band have had an overwhelming response to the CD and radio stations have been playing the CD which took eight months to make at Touchwood Studios in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Her brother, Radoslav Gasparic, produced and engineered the CD, with engineering assistance by Grant Hall, who owns the studio. ‘Radoslav is an amazing talent who can play any instrument, sing like a bird and mix music beautifully,’ enthuses Christina. Their songs are composed by guitarists Brad and Christina, and the latter goes on to explain about the band’s shows. ‘People love our live shows. We are very energetic, passionate, easy on the eyes and include audience participation. I want to make it fun for both my band and the audiences by having them sing along and show much emotion while performing the songs. I also like to tell jokes and act goofy when I get really giddy,’ he smiles. The band continues to promote the CD and hope to secure a deal to enable them to play here in the UK and Europe as well as plans for another CD.
- Nicky Baldrian
Already released domestically in April of this year, Sonic Orchid’s first full-length album (although it has a total playing time of only 35:17 minutes) has now also reached the EU, thanks to the exploring talent of one Nicky Baldrian of SLW Promotions. Sonic Orchid is a Canadian melodic hard rock band, based in Saskatchewan and formed in 2002. After having played as a cover band for a while, the band members started writing material of their own, which led to the release of the “Sonic Orchid EP” in 2005. Another three years were necessary to come up with the follow-up, called “Love & War”. First things first: I like the ‘special’ voice of front lady Christine Gasparic. It’s difficult to compare her with other female vocalists, but that’s a good thing, for sure! Having written the lyrics for the nine songs on offer, it’s only natural that she rules the roost. Backed by three gentlemen, she performs the material with such ease as if she’s done this all her life. What Sonic Orchid offers the listener is a catchy mix of ‘classic’ melodic hard rock and ‘modern’ melodic metal, perfectly produced by Johnny Gasparic (family?). Surely an entertaining debut album! ( CL)
- www.RockReport.be
Hard rocking Queen City quintet rattles the rafters at The Exchange. Sonic Orchid's own material is stylistically reminiscent of The Cult and Led Zeppelin. - Prairie Dog, Regina, Sask.
Sonic Orchid really knows how to whip up an audience. With a delicious blend of kick-ass rock and raw, steamy sex appeal, Sonic Orchid is intense and is guaranteed to keep you primed. Frontman Chris Gasparic is no wall flower, playing guitar and commanding respect with her stage persona. - The Star Phoenix, Saskatoon, Sask.
"Here they come with their swords and the armour - oo arrghh, oo arrghh, oo arrghh" you'd be forgiven if you have the slightest of smirks on your chops when you listen to the opening track of "Love & War". It's pomp power rock at its glorious best. Great fun and definitely tongue in cheek. Imagine a lighter version of Manowar crossed with Lee Aaron (now there's a blast from the past!). Hailing from Canada, this female-fronted band started life doing covers and then decided to have a pop at writing their own stuff. They have absolutely no chance of breaking into the mainstream with the musical niche they've decided to explore but that's probably because they don't wanna. I get the feeling they write for themselves primarily and if something comes of it then great.
There's bagfuls of energy here and on the track "Liar" you can almost picture lead vocalist, Christine, swishing her long blonde locks around while the band pumps out the noise mercilessly behind. If head nodding power metal with strong female vocals is your bag (again think Doro from "Warlock") then this could be worthy of an investment.
The obligatory ballad hits us on Track 7 in the melancholic "Without You" showing the other side of Sonic Orchid. A catchy 'lil number that suffers only from poor production but could easily slip into some American sitcom/drama programs theme-tune.
If you're looking for something cutting edge and new then you won't find it here but who cares?
7/10
By Hilda - Hilda from Glitzine.net
Sonic Orchid, Love & War
(Self-released)
This Canadian four-piece plays powerful music that’ll especially pique the interest of fans of classic rockers like Dio and Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow. One big difference though, Sonic Orchid’s
frontperson is a woman: Christine Gasparic. Gasparic physically is
petite but she has a big, husky voice (no doubt she’s belted out some blues in her day), and she puts it to particularly good use
while stressing her rather pointed opinion in “Liar.” “Last Time Alone” sounds a little bit like something
that Pat Benatar might have done, but Gasparic’s phrasing is more akin to talented but lesser-known singers from the same era like Tane Cain and 1994 vocalist Karen
Lawrence. Brad Evanochko’s playing
is inspired throughout, but some of his solos are a bit brief; you can sense that the guitarist is ready to
really let it fly. Love & War is polished pretty good and that works nicely for all concerned, but I’m sure fans wouldn’t mind if they
dirtied things up a bit for their next effort by maybe tossing in a couple of live cuts.
Grade: B
—Kevin Wierzbicki - Campus Circle, Vol. 19 Issue 3, Page 18
Discography
Sonic Orchid EP, released April 15, 2005
Sonic Orchid- Love And War- released in April, 2008
Photos
Bio
Sonic Orchid is Saskatchewan's only female-fronted melodic rock band! Christina fuels the group with her siren-like, soaring vocals and charisma, while guitarist Brad punctuates with his melodic, rockin riffs. The group has been performing regularly in the prairies since 2002, covering a wide range of artists such as Journey, Pink, Led Zeppelin, Boston, just to name a few. . However, needing to feed their creative side, they began writing their own music. Each member brought various musicality, experiences, and influences to Sonic Orchid. Christina brings her own personal experiences, thoughts and feelings into her lyrics and melodies; Brad brings his love of melodic rock and hard rockin’ riffs into his rhythms and solos, while Grant and CJ add the final spark, making Sonic Orchid’s sound a kind of new millennium melodic -pop -hard rock.
Sonic Orchid’s first EP recording, simply entitled Sonic Orchid, was released in 2005. It has received positive feedback from various music publications and has seen high sales globally. The group’s new full-length CD entitled Love & War, released in April 2008, maintains its current classic melodic hard rock style, but now incorporates orchestrated arrangements and metal infections into its sound. Love & War has been accepted by music enthusiasts and has received positive and encouraging reviews internationally. The group's music is being sold through live shows and Internet distributors such as iTunes and CD Baby and it's affiliates.
Sonic Orchid's music is being played on several internet radio stations; U.S. radio stations and overseas; and local community and campus radio stations. Tracks from their first recording received a favorable nod from Billboard Magazine's International Songwriting Contest, while tracks from their new release, Love & War, have been selected to appear in Fireworks magazine CD Compilation, Vol. 3, which is distributed in the U.K. Sonic Orchid has been gaining popularity globally, having fans from all over Canada, the United States, the U.K. and Europe.
“SONIC ORCHID...homegrown melodic rock and roll to satisfy your sense of sight and sound,” exclaims Jeff Redbeard Corbett, Host of Striving for Independents on CJTR, Regina Community Radio. “Lead singer Christina Gasparic is NO shrinking violet. Her sultry good looks will seduce you as her powerful vocals take you on the rock and roll ride of your life. Double-tie your dancing shoes and get on the dance floor.”
The collaboration of band members gives them more than 20 years of experience in the music business. They have performed in various venues and festivals in Saskatchewan including: Regina, Rock N’ the Valley Festival at Craven, and Taste of Saskatchewan Festivals in Regina and Saskatoon. They have also performed in Manitoba at The Grand Beach Festival, Minnedosa Rock Festival, Brandon and Winnipeg. The group has also toured into Alberta playing in several major cities and towns; their popularity in these venues has brought them back to play several times per year, securing contracts in most of these venues for repeat performances.
The group is planning many new and exciting ventures and is working hard to be seen and heard globally.
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