Metal Shock Finland (World Assault )

Review By Alison Booth

Artist: THE TRACY G GROUP
Album: This Device
Label: Spooky G Music
Release Date: 20th September 2015

Tracklist:

1. Space Beast (The Mudshark Returns)
2. This Device
3. Benjamin Siegel
4. Red White Black and Blue
5. Out Of Time
6. The Train (Revisited)

With a busy and impressive musical history spanning many years, including six of them with the legendary DIO, expectations were high for the latest offering from guitarist Tracy G and his band THE TRACY G GROUP.

The new six track EP “This Device” is like a hard hitting 32 minute punch to the throat! So much is packed into a short space of time, so let’s start with the album opener ‘Space Beast (The Mudshark Returns)’. An instrumental, full of atmospheric spaced out sounds and a great melodic solo by Tracy, backed up by the tight rhythm section of bassist Randy Oviedo and drummer Adrian Aguilar.

The pace moves up a notch with the title track ‘This Device’ – Michael Beatty‘s vocals kick in, delivering the Big Brother-esque content with a great raw edge. Full of catchy riffs and hooks, the whole song arrangement is epic, also featuring KORN‘s Ray Luzier on drums.

One of the most famous and feared gangsters of his day in 1930’s and ’40’s America, ‘Benjamin Siegel‘, forms the title of the next track, (he was a driving force behind the development of Las Vegas), with gambling as the focus. Very heavy and the spoken words at the start evoke a feel of the flamboyant David Lee Roth. In fact, the whole song has a great ’80’s vibe, with monstrous riffs, complete with drumming this time from Mike Terrana. One of my favourites.

The politically charged ‘Red White Black & Blue’ is up next, could this album deliver any more epic riffs? It certainly can! THE TRACY G GROUP are a slick professional unit, with Michael really showing his vocal range and depth here to maximum impact. I can see this being a great one to play on stage!

‘Out Of Time’ is a groove laden, thought provoking song about death, or more specifically, a subject that touches most people in some way – cancer. The emotionally charged topic aside, this song is packed full of heaviness and intensity, again featuring Ray Luzier.

‘The Train (Revisited)’ completes this EP in instrumental style, also being the longest track at 8:09. Tight, smooth bass lines and solid heavy drums perfectly compliment Tracy‘s soaring guitar solos and riffs here.

If you love heavy metal, you need to own this album! My only ‘complaint’ is that this self produced album with its unique raw sound is not long enough – looking forward to more from THE TRACY G GROUP in the not too distant future.

Rating: 9.5/10

Michael Beatty – Vocals
Randy Oviedo – Bass
Tracy G – Guitar
Adrian Aguilar – Drums on tracks 1, 4, 6
Ray Luzier – Drums on tracks 2, 5
Mike Terrana – Drums on track 3

“This Device” is available to purchase here and to find out more about THE TRACY G GROUP visit the official Facebook page here and the official website at this location.