Out Of Here is the second EP from Australian rock band Alpha State. It combines heavy guitars with melodic vocals and an occasional pop bent. And for the most part, it works.
Feed begins with grinding guitars and bashed drums, but quickly gets stripped back to M’s vocals. She’s got a good voice, but one can’t help thinking the song tas lost some of its power because the guitar has been pushed to the background. Luckily, the musical break brings back the guitar in fine squealing form.In contrast the DW Norton mix of Feed (final track off the EP), is full of textured guitars that accentuate the song’s solid structure. The hollered and distorted vocals work very well, adding an extra dimension.
The rest of the EP has its moments. Fracture works well, particularly the drummed intro. The guitars come back with a vengeance in the chorus and M really lets rip with the vocals. Exit Wounds is another good song, really thrashy and energetic.
Meltdown, however, is unremarkable. It is a bit of a confusing song, particularly during the rapped choruses. It sounds as though it is being pulled in too many directions at once. Rain 4eva is a slower track, and a bit monotonous and restrained when compared to most of the other songs on this release.
This isn’t a bad release at all, but Alpha State could have pushed their sound further. The ability to do so is there, as evidenced by the heavier songs, but the musicianship was hard to discern at times and took too much of a backseat.
