Review Summary: Without a doubt one of the most talented hard rock bands of all time.
Let’s be honest, when Chevelle started out, for a three piece band, this was one of hard rock’s finest bands of all time. Say what you will about
This Type Of Thinking,
Vena Sera and
Sci-Fi Crimes Wonder What’s Next was the bands defining glory. This was Chevelle as a united brotherhood, strong in family and musical ties. This album sees Chevelle at it’s peak. We have all heard a thousand times the comparisons to Breaking Benjamin, Three Days Grace and countless other ‘hard rock’ bands currently in the limelight. The difference being that anyone who can read, play or truly appreciate music can easily recognize differences between Chevelle and other contemporaries. This difference is musical integrity. For a three piece band, holy *** do Chevelle distinguish themselves as unique talent.
From the opening notes of
Family System to the closing acoustic notes of
One Lonely Visitor,
Wonder What’s Next is a cornucopia of complex poly-rhythm’s and odd time signatures mixed with accessible vocals and melodic guitar lines. The greatest strength of this record is it’s ability to appeal to those who enjoy simple hard rock, and those who yearn for something challenging, musically complex and aggressive. The band employs several of these unique qualities to offer something more than a radio-rock record like ‘One-X’.
The drum beats are simple yet complex in subtle ways. The bass is easily the most prominent instrument, taking the lead in a majority of songs and providing a strong backbone.
It is honestly refreshing to hear a three piece band incorporate the bass as a major instrument instead of simply washing it away in the backround as a distant, unimportant instrument. The major complaint about
Wonder What’s Next is the somewhat simple, almost nu-metal, drop tuning guitars. Those who critizise though need to keep in mind that as a three piece band, trying to sing, scream and play all guitar riffs, Pete Loefer is pretty ***ing talented. You have to respect an amazing lead vocalist who is also the lead guitarist. Not many bands these days (especially mainstream hard rock bands) have the talent and songwriting ability that Chevelle do.
I refuse to go on about how you need to hear this album or give it a second chance if you are not a fan.
99% of us on this website have heard the record and either like it for talent/nostalgia sake or despise it for the fact that so many ‘hard rock’ fans have jumped on the bandwagon and listen to Default, Breaking Benjamin or Three Days Grace. We all know douchbags who claim to like ‘hard rock’ bands but really know nothing about the genre. Let’s be honest here, Chevelle is easily hard rock’s leading saviour and the band have kept to integrity and honesty when most modern radio rock has abandoned these qualities.
