Review Summary: Down to earth and floating in space at exactly the same time. Noah wouldn't be able to do it much better himself.
Imagine Paul Stanley, Beck and Marilyn Manson making sweet love on the one and only Highway to Hell. Paved with marbles, that is. Got the picture? Okay, then you're as prepared as you can be to step into the world of Arockalypse aka Chris Bray. A world, being desribed by the man himself as follows:
"Arockalypse and the Amazing Trans-Metropolitans is my rock and roll vanity plate. It's a revolution led by dirty fetishists and phlacterists against the future world I imagined in my childhood - a world of dymaxion homes, monorails, jet-packs and astronaut ice cream."
That's about it and it tastes damn well. Rarely have I heard a record so catchy as this one. Dangerous too, because one innocent little taste will get you hooked for life. But then again, what's wrong with that? Because -although the music is as accessible as it gets- there's something new to discover with every spin: that one break, that perfect little guitar lick, that subtle drum part. Just about anything is possible on this unique ship, this fully loaded mastery consisting not of two specimens of each animal, but of one human decimating his own body and soul to load the cargo space, standing on deck to make sure the troops reach the destination unharmed. And he passes with flying colors.
'The Ark' is amazing, a hybrid fusion of rock, glam and metal with a pinch of disco and electronics thrown in for good measure. The accents and nuances vary from song to song, which makes this a varied album ranging from dirty rockers ('The Trans-Metropolitans', 'Ezekiel 1:1') to a happy disco tune with a punch ('Robot Nation'). Without any exception the drumming is catchy and funky, the bass grooving badly, the guitar work effective, the lyrics razor-sharp and quick-witted, the vocals convincing as they can be and the production truly sublime.
And then it's hard to believe that just one man wrote the whole thing, produced it and played all instruments. Without the backing of a record company. An incredible achievement and a huge pity that this album didn't get the attention it deserved. So, here you are. I've done my part. Now it's up to you to discover the great music of Arockalypse. Be sure not to miss the boat before it sets off for the big ocean.
