Life Lessons
Self-Released, 2017
9/10
A New Jersey multi-instrumentalist who has already played in bands like Michale Graves, Darkness Descends and Alyxx, Christopher Dean knows his way around a punk, metal and rock tune, and here he gives a handful of them that surround themes of death, divorce, love and loss.
The volatile listen starts with the charged guitars and furious pace of the punk fueled “Punknights Finale”, which is complete with catchy ‘woah ohs’, and “Everything Fades” maintains that energy with a hint of metal in the bombastic drumming and thundering atmosphere that’s full of melody, too.
With 13 tunes present, there isn’t a dull moment to be found, as “Enjoy The Ride” offers swirling guitars in the head bobbin’, anthemic fun, while “Blast From The Past” delivers an intensity we normally find in hardcore, but with a sing-along quality.
Back half highlights include the punk’n’roll of “Lover (10 Years Ago)”, as well as the infectious chorus of “Nanu Nanu (We Miss You)”, which moves with a fuzzy, reflective moment of bristling rock. “Bleeding Her From More”, one of the stand out tunes, then chugs with a thick presence but still finds plenty of harmony amid the gritty setting. “Miner” ends the listen with some prog-rock ideas amid a darker spirit with an ominous quality that shows much diversity in Dean’s song craft.
A guitar fanatic since the age of 13, Dean’s also a strong vocalist, too, and this first album should have no problem getting punk/hardcore kids and metal heads on board with the inimitable force that is Dean.
Travels well with: Speedealer- Blue Days Black Nights; The Cutthroat Brothers- Taste For Evil