Orange County’s Bullets and Octane look like a wannabe screamo band. I mean could you tell the difference between this ruly mob and Avenged Atreyu?
http://www.criterionrecords.com/images/BANDS/bno_group.jpg
It’s probably a good job then that Bullets and Octane sound absolutely nothing like any kind of run of the mill dullfest that the So-Cal suburb has been churning out a lot recently. B&O are very, very melodic and have a driving sound which will surely gain them plenty of radio, and dare I even say MTV, play over the coming months. The band don’t quite have the catchy appeal of a Hoobastank or The Hives, but play a driving rock sound which has elements of both bands in their sound. I guess you could also chuck Velvet Revolver comparisons in their too if you so wish.
Which, on the face of it, makes me want to spit bile because I cannot really stand any of those bands. But B&O do their thing quite well. On the catchier-than-SARS ‘Holdin’ On’ they’ll have you singing along in no time whatsoever. And this is a trait that the band manage to capture and smuggle onto every single song. There’s a formulaic approach to every track here, which ultimately lets it down long term, but for a few listens at least it will keep you happy. The gruff vocals keep things edgy, while the guitars jump off each other to keep things melodic.
Bullets and Octane won’t change the world, but short-term at least, they’ll keep you more than interested.
www.bulletsandoctane.net
Criterion Records
Paul