Customer Reviews

Epidemic

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Featuring four band members, all from different origins - frontman Boris (Holland), guitarist Bruce Allen (Memphis, Tennessee), bassist Jimmy McDaniel (New Orleans) and drummer Tim Ganard (Louisiana) - the LA-based quartet went through various projects before meeting one another and forming the band under the name American Murder. After a year of shows and demoing, the group secured a deal with Elektra Records and, following the name change to their current moniker Epidemic, entered the studio with producer Rick Parashar (Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains, Nickelback) to record their S/T debut, which is slated for release on June 25, 2002.

Brandishing a powerful, yet melodically driven style of hard rock, Epidemic emerges as a cross between the dark & moody intensity of such bands as Staind, Godsmack & Edify, and the commercial appeal of the more accessible Creed and Nickelback. Musically, the band covers all extremes, ranging from hard-hitting, punkish, garage-rock stylings to more sensitive, ballad-like musings as well as contrasts between the two, while the sound as a whole is rooted in a strong foundation of melody. Composition wise, Epidemic utilizes compelling, hook-oriented songwriting and solid musicianship to craft edgy, yet appealing songs that feature boisterous guitars, catchy hooks, dramatic melodies, and a tight rhythm section, all of which is offset by dynamic breakdowns and an overall sense of rawness that captures the live, organic feel of the band. Providing the final, and perhaps strongest, component to the Epidemic sound is the presence of frontman/songwriter Boris, whose potent blend of grunge-esque screaming/singing, somber Nickelback/Default-like harmonies, and personal lyrics express the nature of the band with undeniable passion and conviction. Overall, Epidemic has crafted a brand of hard rock that may not exactly be unique in its formula or execution, yet excels with its ability to be engaging without taking away from the truthfulness or sincerity of the band.

Marked by a sense of timelessness and sublime emotional expression that is notably lacking in most of today's modern Rock acts, Epidemic's S/T debut delivers with mammoth force throughout the twelve songs found on the Rick Parashar-produced album. Immediately leading off the record is the dynamic first single Walk Away, an energetic & catchy anthem led by memorable choruses and strong melodies. From there the album does a great job of diversifying, ranging from dark & aggressive to beautiful & melancholic as exemplified by such standout tracks as the acoustic-like Disconnected, the emotional Make No Mistake, and the epic, ending track Burden with its powerful, soaring choruses. On the more aggressive, and perhaps less memorable, side are such tracks as the visceral, punk/garage-rock influenced Equilibrium with its cathartic guitars & effects driven vocals, the driving assertiveness of the scream-laden Catalyst & the more controlled & contrasting Generic The Norm, both of which contain excellent melodic breakdowns, while Under The Current is a dark, semi-insistent song, led by harmonious choruses and aggressive breakdowns. Other more notable tracks include the unforgettable Slightest Trace, a great up-tempo number featuring infectious harmonies & choruses, the melodically driven, emotionally rousing Individual, and the versatile Currency with its stunning verses and energetic choruses. As a whole, despite a few weak areas regarding originality, lack of consistency from song to song, and, to some extent, production, this S/T record is a very strong debut, containing not only a nice variety of songs, but also a number of potential radio hit singles that should easily establish Epidemic as the next big name in Rock...

I absolutely love this cd! Walk Away was awesome when I heard it on the radio and I fell in love with it! But once you listen to it it gets even better! Burden of a Thought is the best song on there and it rocks! Truly great! Slightest Trace, Disonnected, and Currency of Cynics are great too! Definitely worth buying!

Not sure where to begin-totally ALIVE!!! These guys have a great formula for making music. A great mix of high pumpin pure rock, melodic acoustic sounds, as well as an orchestra ensemble. The lyrics catch you right from the beginning-and hold you thru the very last word. (Got a sneak peak at the video-these guys are also quite easy on the eyes-especially the bassist!) You may not know who they are now.....but that won't be for very long.

If you like cold you will like this Epidemic it's a five star cd
and it gets better he more you here it

I would like to start off by saying that my best friend in high school was the nephew of Bruce Allen (last name is an alias), and I met these guys and hung out in their tourbus in Ohio in 2002. They were a great band, it's a shame that a combination of inner turmoil and label issues caused them to break up because the songs they recorded after touring with this album were just as good and never got released to anyone except family members and friends, via a burnt album of 7 new songs. I happen to be one of the lucky few who got a copy of these unreleased songs and it's really a shame they couldn't have pressed a few more tracks and made another album of it.

But I digress... this was an awesome album that never got the attention that it deserved. I won't go into too much detail other than to say that this is one of those rock albums that you can actually sit and listen to from beginning to end without any boredom. Epidemic will throw you some hard-edged gritty rock, then feed you some soft melodic tunes. Boris is a great lead singer and he is very capable of amplying the mood of the song with his voice. The lyrics are also mostly top-notch here, especially when coupled with Bruce's strings.

If anyone stumbles across this mostly forgotten album, I highly recommend that you give it a listen, you won't be disappointed.... and yes, Burden of a Thought is the best song on the album (to whomever said that).

I was suprised when I heard this for the first time because I really didn't expect this to be anything more than an average modern rock album. This was probably because of the fact I heard of the band through Madden 2003 for Gamecube after hearing "Walk Away". Since I had never heard of the band before I was slightly skeptical about getting the album. I'm glad I got it though because it was definatly not a let down. From start to finish it was great. Sure there were a few weak points but aside from those; tracks like "Walk Away", "Individual", "Catalyst", "Make No Mistake", and "Burden Of A Thought" make up for that. They are my personal favorites off the album. Here's the rest of my track ratings...

1. Walk Away - 10/10

2. Equilibrium - 10/10

3. Individual - 10/10

4. Catalyst - 10/10

5. The Slightest Trace - 10/10

6. Make No Mistake - 10/10

7. Generic The Norm - 10/10

8. Disconnected - 9/10

9. Currency Of Cynics - 9.5/10

10. Shallow - 8/10

11. Undercurrent - 10/10

12. Burden Of A Thought - 10/10

Overall: 96% A

Sure, it doesnt really have a unique sound but that still shouldn't take away from the music. If it's good it's good. I don't really know how else to put it. If you're looking for something different than what's out today then this is probably not for you. However if you want a solid modern rock band with something to say then why not give Epidemic a shot. I mean the album is cheap enough as it is. Give it a shot, you may just like what you hear.

I have been trying to find out what happened to Epidemic for years. [...] They were the complete opposite of what the music industry has been trying to force down our throats (i.e. adolescents that can't play more than two chords and mask an impotent vocal range by effeminately screaming asinine lyrics). I am still angry that a band with such substance in their message and well crafted ballads was apparently dropped by their label.

I haven't met any one that's heard of this band, but I love them. They're a sort of grunge band. If you like Nirvana and Seether, check this out!

I first heard of Epidemic when they were on tour with one of my favorite bands, Breaking Benjamin. I must say that they were very impressive. After they played about 2 or 3 songs, I went over and bought their album. I was not disappointed at all. Every song on this album you will either love or hate, there's no in between. The lead singer has an outstanding voice, and the guitar riffs are just as awesome. They also do a good job mixing this album up. It can go from real heavy on one track, to very slow and melodic on the next. If you're into bands like Breaking Benjamin, Finger Eleven, Smile Empty Soul, Three Days Grace, etc, you should really check these guys out. My favorite songs include: Disconnected, Currency of Cynics, and Burden of a Thought.

01 - Walk Away - 4/5
02 - Equilibrium - 2/5
03 - Individual - 5/5
04 - Catalyst - 3/5
05 - The Slightest Trace - 5/5
06 - Make No Mistake - 5/5
07 - Generic the Norm - 3/5
08 - Disconnected - 5/5
09 - Currency of Cynics - 5/5
10 - Shallow - 4/5
11 - Undercurrent - 4/5
12 - Burden of a Thought - 5/5

EPIDEMIC'S self titled debut is truly a great record for a new rock band! they offer up explosive tracks like WALK AWAY, SLIGHTEST TRACE, and ballads DISCONNECTED, and CURRENCY OF CYNICS. I seldom say a band will make it big, or go places, due to the large amount of good nu-rock bands on the modern rock scene, however, EPIDEMIC surely has the right tools to do so! If you are a fan of the type of rock that has captured the world lately, than check out EPIDEMIC. I think you'll find that they are a cut above alot of the other bands, still with a familiar sound.