ROB Rise On Belief – Bright Fame

HERE’S WHAT WE DUG MOST…

The album opens strongly with When Susie Puts On Her Makeup. Complex drum riffs give way to layers of electric guitar, creating an energetic and rock-forward sonic landscape. Hoagland’s voice has an element of pop-punk inflection to it in this track, delivered with intensity and brightness that cuts cleanly through the instrumentation. From the first track it’s clear that the band that has been assembled not only has top-notch chops, but the members also blend well together and have great cohesion that elevates their sound.

We find many of these elements appearing consistently across the album. Give Me Your Love leans to the pop side of pop-rock with its infectious, sing-song melody. There are clear instances of soul and even funk influence at times, with rich moments of vocal harmonies deftly placed throughout.

By the album’s third track it’s clear that ROB Rise On Belief can thrive in any genre he chooses to work in. Fly Away takes us in a Latin/R&B fusion direction, blending strummy guitars with a thrumming percussion. This is really a testament to Hoagland’s vocal ability as well – he has a commanding ability over his vocal tone, allowing him to fit seamlessly into any variety of genres, which is no small feat.

The group’s artistic range expands even further as slide guitar and some innate twang make their way into Music Saved My Soul. This Americana anthem feels like Darius Rucker meets a gospel choir, combining complex vocal moments with the pure musical simplicity of an acoustic-based genre. Not Anymore brings many of the same elements to mind, but this time it’s executed in a much more bluesy, swampy way (which again features an impressive performance from the chameleon-like vocals of Hoagland).

We also love the foot-stomping energy of Walk On The Other Side, as well as the return to crunchy rock roots in the album’s closing track Interlude.

OUR FAVORITE TRACK…

The band’s most compelling performance arrives towards the conclusion of the album. Mirror Mirror is high-octane hard rock track, hard-hitting in both execution and composition. It’s full of heavily effected guitars, gritty vocals, and memorable riffs that you’ll find replaying in your head long after the song concludes. It’s also one of the best examples of lyric writing on the album; despite the intensity of the track, there is subtlety and clear messaging in the song’s word choice:

“You know what
My reflections that you’re showing me
Are so full of your lies
This delusion you try to conceive
Does not express what I believe”

IN CONCLUSION…

Dynamic, multifaceted, and totally engrossing. This is an album that truly has something for everyone. If you’re looking for an artist on the rise with endless potential, look no further than the genre-blending work of ROB Rise On Belief on Bright Fame. Stream this exceptional album for yourself below.

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