Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
“…a band to look out for in the future” -MTVAsia.com - Jo Ng
It's a truism that political strife makes for exciting and groundbreaking music, and these are truly times of turmoil in this country. The current administration has polarized this country on a scale not seen since the Viet Nam War era. And sure enough, there's some damn exciting music popping up amid the the rubble.
Brooklyn's RTR deals in a passionate and aware brand of metal that speaks truth to power, while sporting innovative guitar work and melody to burn. From the searing kick of 'Rising Son' to the more introspective mood of 'Living aA Lie', RTR grab your attention and they don't let go.
Guitarist Aki Ishibashi draws from the best of NYC rock guitar history, keening between crushing chords and shards of noise. He splits the difference between Biohazard and Living Colour, and the result is akin to the sound of a police riot. Drummer Howard Alper put in time with former Living Colour vocalist Corey Glover's band, and his influences are too numerous to list - but you'll recognize them as soon as you hear them.
Freedom Bremner is the voice of RTR, and like the rest of the band, he's got a style that is well-suited to the message RTR brings. He's one of the featured vocalists on Moby's 18, and it's easy to say why. He brings the right amount of passion to these songs and is the melodic anchor to Aki's more dissonant flights of guitar screed. The core of the band employs a couple of bassists -Booker King and John Ormond - and both add the necessary amount of low-end wallop to make the tracks rumble and shake.
And as good as the music is, you can't avoid the message - to resist the machinations of power, to question what others are telling you is for your own good or good for you. RTR aren't the first to wed aware lyrics to walloping rock and roll, but they're one of the first of a new generation of rockers who realize that a great beat can move your mind as well as your body. Visit RTR at radthought.com.
- blah3
Wow! Bands are still attempting to unify the human race.
Notable Lyric - “Do you feel like you’re free in this world of make believe? What is wrong? Who is right?” - "Living A Lie"
Factoid - Vocalist Freedom Bremner performed on Moby’s album 18 singing leads for the tune “At Least We Tried.”
Serve With - The Declaration of “Indie”-pendence.
Comments - The core of this band’s platform centers around our lives, and the writer’s perception here of what the purpose of life is, if not question why there’s conflict amongst us. The lyrics are politically charged in protest of our government nature, and poetically written by the guitarist (mixer) Akihishi Ishibashi, and drummer Howard Alper. The vocals are throaty and remind me a bit of Lenny Kravitz. The first track “Rising Sun” did not grab me, but listening further I came to appreciate their views and their music. It’s incredibly involved in sound, voice, verse, and creativity. The better tracks here that really explain who they are were ” Our New Reality”, “Maybe”, and “Living A Lie”.
URL www.radthought.com
Reviewer May (2/03)
- May
Discography
Empowered Species - 2002
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
The Radical Thought Resistance
Formed in January 2000 by guitarist Akihisa Ishibashi and drummer Howard Alper, The Radical Thought Resistance or simply RTR forges a fresh Hard Rock sound by combining elements of Electronica with heavy guitar riffs, soulful vocals and socially conscious lyrics.
RTR vocalist Freedom Bremner, added to the lineup in 2001, has worked with Moby, singing lead on At least we tried, which can be found on Mobys CD 18." Freedom was also a finalist on CBS Television's "StarSearch", where he took the nation by storm with his soulful renditions of Sting's "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" and The Doobie Brothers "Long Train Running."
Before forming RTR, Aki and Howard led a band that was featured on the cable TV show Farmclub and were also Discmakers Independent Music World Series East Coast Regional Finalists. Howard also worked on Living Colour vocalist Corey Glovers solo CD release entitled Hymns, co-writing and playing drums on several songs. Additionally, Howard was profiled in the June 2003 edition of Modern Drummer magazine where they referred to the RTR drum tracks as dynamic and demonstrating speed, facility and creative energy.
RTR has been making a name for themselves in NYC where audiences are not only impressed by their live show but most importantly their songs. RTR takes special care in writing and arranging the songs so a mass audience will be able to appreciate the message and the grooves.
With thought provoking lyrics, a ground breaking approach in style and energetic live shows, RTR is a fresh approach to hard rock in todays music landscape. Their debut EP CD entitled Empowered Species was released in July 2002.
www.radthought.com
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