Label: Cherry Red/CDbaby 2016
Review by: Urban "Wally" Wallstrom
Raptor Trail feature one dude that tunes his guitar in D and another that plays an instrument called Guijo (half Strat/half banjo) tuned in open G. Add to this that the guitarist Mayes and drummer: Bass? (oh the irony) played together for twelve years in pioneer Jam rock band Jupiter Coyote which went on to sell more than half a million records and you're up to date?
I haven't been listening to any jupiter or previous raptor release though. However, although the band have managed to make a record which exists at some level and dimension, they've kept themselves rather constrained and underground? Or perhaps it's just yours truly and his crappy attitude and lack of knowledge? Well. You simply can't keep track of all the groups out there. It's impossible. If I believe to have a decent know-how? That's clearly not up to me to decide.
Many of these tracks seem to blend together, which in itself is no issue as I'm keen to hear their not so ordinary version of "Prog-Rock". I don't hear all that much of the bluegrass, country, and southern rock which came out on their debut. Their sophomore album, "New World", includes thought provoking lyrical content and complex structure that surely must have been inspired by the likes of Rush, REM and Primus? It's different, slightly wacky and some of these works are extended, but together it sometimes comes across as bland at moments, and slipping into the interesting-but-almost-too-wacky zone.
theraptortrail.com
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