ALBUM REVIEW: SiX BY SiX – SiX BY SiX
SIX BY SIX are a brand new progressive rock band on the scene, only forming earlier this year. Despite that, they have already come so far in the industry. They have most recently signed with Sony subsidiary InsideOut Music for the release of their self-titled debut album. To give us a sure fire taster of what’s to come on their first record, SIX BY SIX revealed three exciting promotional tracks Yearning To Fly, Save The Night and China in the lead up to the release.
The first track on the album Yearning To Fly ramps up the intrigue levels from the first note, before charging in with a lively, funky riff which gives us so many positive emotions. The song has a euphoric nature about it which is just simply unbeatable, telling their fans that they are able to get through any bad situation and make the best of it. China has an opening riff that sounds pretty similar to LED ZEPPELIN before evolving into something a lot more symphonic. The chorus riff is just something else, making the song complete.
Reason To Feel Calm Again starts off with some interesting, almost intergalactic sounds and a striking keyboard segment. As the track progresses, it is easy to feel truly invested. Robert Berry‘s hard-hitting, impactful vocals just do all the talking, telling you everything you need to know. The song is ever-changing, upping the ante with every chord. A truly wonderful addition to the album. The Upside Of Down is another energetic little number, which really showcases SIX BY SIX‘s true musical talent. It is very playful and optimistic in nature, telling the listener to just ‘grab what’s in front of you’ in terms of professional aspirations.
The striking opening to Casino grabs your attention instantly, keeping you alert and focused on what’s to come. The band’s use of complex progressive melodies really pays off here, leaving a real musical imprint. It is great to hear SIX BY SIX really choose to change things up at this stage of the release, keen to experiment with a range of different sounds and synths in the process. This is most certainly also the case with the next track Live Forever, where Berry actually makes you wonder if you want to live forever. It’s a very short yet thought provoking number which is sure to pique your interest from start to finish.
As we progress into The Last Words On Earth, SIX BY SIX use their multi-talented line-up to their full advantage, kicking the track off with a chilling piano solo, before storming right in with a contrasting belter of a rock riff. You are most certainly never going to be bored listening to this song, as just like the majority of this album it’s constantly evolving into something new and unique. As we near to the end of the song, Berry experiments with a higher vocal range, sounding similar to MUSE‘s Matt Bellamy at times. Skyfall is probably one of the weakest tracks on the album, but there is simply no denying the power of the retro sounding riff throughout.
By the time we reach Battle Of A Lifetime, we are very much in awe. The use of sultry yet emotional guitar chords tugs on your heartstrings, showing a completely different side to the band. It is amazing that SIX BY SIX can switch instantly from fun-loving to emotional in just a few seconds. This song almost adopts two personalities in one – it’s simply amazing. The final track Save The Night is well worth the wait – what a firecracker. In typical SIX BY SIX fashion, we feel totally at peace and elevated as a result of listening to this song. What a sensational closer.
You would never be able to tell that this is SIX BY SIX‘s debut body of work, it just sounds so polished and thorough. It is easy to adore the progressive nature of this release and it’s great that they are more than willing to change things up and surprise us with every song. The band just work together and they show it in spades. A true gem in the rock world, that’s for sure.
Rating: 8/10
SiX BY SiX is set for release on August 19th via InsideOut Music.
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