“ Another Messiah” doesn’ t return to the pace of the early part of the album, but lays somewhere between“ Blood Red Sun” and“ It’ s Coming Round Again”. While the musicianship and vocals are spot on, it’ s not a track I am instantly in love with, nor is it a track I dislike.“ Where Are You Now” gets back to a faster pace that is more appealing to me. The hooks from guitarist AJ LARSEN and the pounding drums really come to the forefront in this track. If you can’ t get into this song, I’ m not sure that you are a fan of the hard rock genre.“ Why Don’ t You Hear Me” exemplifies the quality of work that Madison Rising has put forth on this album. The vocals, guitar, bass and drum flow so well together in this track, it would make hope that this will be one of singles released.
“ So Afraid” saved the best for the last part of the track. Larsen’ s guitar burned a fire right through the end of the song and I had hoped it would continue on for longer than it did.“ Madeline” slowed things down a bit, and to this point is the closest thing you will find to a ballad on“ Battered Not Broken”. I think it has a lot of commercial appeal and if gets a push, could reap very big rewards and accolades for the band.“ Heaven’ s Seas( The Beast Inside)”, the current single and brand new music video, is another song with a lot of commercial appeal. It is the ballad that breaks out into a rockin’ ass tune briefly before reverting back to the Madison Rising version of a rocking ballad.“ On My Own” is truly one of my favorites on the album-- unusual in the fact that it is one of the slowest paced songs on the offering. There is really something that draws you in vocally, and I find it captivating.“ Currents”, the eleventh and final track, is just a solid rock song with string accompaniment that is well conceived and rounds out the album quite well.
There are several things you have to be able to come to grips with when you listen to“ Battered Not Broken”. One, if you have been a fan of Madison Rising in the past, this is not just the same as anything they have offered up in the past. It, beyond the shadow of a doubt, is different. Second, if you have listened to Rio Hiett in his previous bands, specifically TEN BLADE, this is different. With those things said, I believe different can be better-- and in this case, I like how Madison Rising has grown musically with the additions of Tom Dipietro, AJ Larsen, and Rio Hiett. SAM FISHMAN, the only original member left, can pound the skins with the best of them. I’ m sure they will continue to embrace the“ America’ s Most Patriotic Rock Band” moniker, but they have certainly expanded their horizons beyond that, and should acquire many fans outside of the niche they were playing in. They may well be one of America’ s rising stars.
On JP’ s RAWKMETER, I give“ Battered Not Broken” 4.5 out of 5 stars. You can find out more about Madison Rising at the following websites:
www. madisonrising. com https:// www. reverbnation. com / madisonrising https:// www. facebook. com / madisonrising
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