CD Review: Verismo - City of Kings

Have you ever heard of Verismo? Me neither. It turns out they are a three piece based out of Brooklyn, NY that has just put out a pretty rocking album on their own without the backing of a record label. After giving it a few listens, I don't think their indie status should be ongoing for much longer. While City of Kings doesn't really reach into any new ground, it is a rock solid album filled with heavy riffs, angry vocals, and is prone to induce a banging head.

Out of curiosity, I looked up the band name at Dictionary.com, and here is what I found:

An artistic movement of the late 19th century, originating in Italy and influential especially in grand opera, marked by the use of rural characters and common, everyday themes often treated in a melodramatic manner.

Not quite sure what that means with regards to their music, but it is a cool sounding name. One thing it does do is point towards the international nature of the trio. The three met in Brooklyn, yet hail from Italy, Hungary, and The Phillipines. Now don't go thinking that you are going to get a world music mash of rock and metal, that isn't what is here. However, the three have tied together to deliver a unified front of angry groove-centric heavy hard rock.

The first time I listened to this I was working the day job, which affords me the ability to listen to music at a reasonable volume. So, I tossed a few albums worth of songs frombands I hadn't listened to yet into a playlist and let it go on its merry way. Initially I was met with some mediocre radio rock that didn't inspire me all that much, but then the opening track of Verismo's album, "Enemy," emanated from the speakers breaking the string of radio friendly pop-rockers and delivering a dose of raw, distorted energy. It was welcomed by my ears, "thank you, something with some crunch!" Turned out I was truly in need of a little angry rock to help me get through the day.

Verismo has a full, tight sound, much fuller than I expected from a three piece. The music has elements of southern and stoner rock mixed with the energy of punk and thrash in a rhythm oriented heavy rock. I detected sound that reminded me of Corrosion of Conformity and Clutch (which I was recently introduced to). Beyond their influences, this is a band that shows much promise in the chunky sound they deliver.

I have read that the album was recorded in one continuous take, without the aid of overdubs or studio tricks. I am not quite sure what to make of that. Does that mean that this is, essentially, a live album? Is it a reference to each song being recorded as a unit and then assembled as an album? I am not sure, not that it matters. Whatever the case is, the album is most definitely raw with an unproduced feel. It is not sloppy by any stretch, but it has a hands off aura about it. That being the case, I can only imagine the energy they can work up in the live setting.

If you are looking for a tight album that delivers solid head banging riffs, this is definitely one to check out. Stephen Laboccetta delivers some great riffs, and he is backed by the solid drive it home rhythms from bassist Vincent Cruz and drummer Tamas Vajda. Together they have a lot of potential, and worth keeping an eye on.

Recommended.