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Oct 04, 2012 Web Exclusive By Hays Davis

An instrumental rock band is free from the verses and chorsues of vocal music, and therefore has a pass to follow its collective nose. Maserati chooses to maintain structure, developing a theme and finding a logical conclusion. It’s a matter of discipline rather than simple repetition, and even if it’s hard to sing along, that doesn’t mean there’s not a hook.

Tags such as “post-rock” and “psych-rock” are regularly applied to Maserati, and while neither is necessarily off the mark, they’re basically an open-minded rock band. The Giorgio Moroder-style synth underpinning on some tracks adds a unique element; while its use could send some bands in a prog-y direction, here it serves best to create further tension.

While Maserati can play like a precision machine, it’s fun to hear the fierce, up-tempo “Earth-Like” break the surface. The song is the closest thing to hard rock on the album; the band rides a crashing beat and stinging guitar riffs like a gang of Silver Surfers, and if they’re having a good time, so are we.

(www.ihaveadagger.net)

Author rating: 6.5/10