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Non-Prog CD Reviews

Kelakos

Hurling Towards Extinction

Review by Gary Hill

Guitar based rock music, this has a tendency to be hard to pin down style-wise. There are some production issues on a few songs here. While they are minor, I found them disruptive, but your mileage may vary on that. Overall, this is a solid album. It doesn’t break any molds and forge any deeply unique territory, but it does deliver some solid music.

This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2025  Volume 4. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2025.
Track by Track Review
Livin' On The Planet Love

This is a melodic rocker with a classic sound. I’m not crazy about the mix on the vocals on this tune. The guitar really paints some classic bluesy rock things, and the vocal performance isn’t bad, it’s just that the mix feels a little jarring to me. The guitar work really saves this extended piece.

Snakebit

The vocal mix on this track works better. This is a reggae-based jam that is a lot of fun. Once again, this has some killer guitar work.

The Lone Road

There is some country music and some folk in the mix here. Overall this is a soft rocker. The vocal mix on this seems a little off, but not as bad as on the opener. Again, it’s nothing to do with the performance but rather the recording and production. It’s not to the point of distraction here, though. There is a funky break later in the track that’s a nice touch. The extended funky guitar solo section later is absolutely on fire, too.

Downhill Slide

With plenty of country music in the mix, this is a mainstream pop rock tune. It has a real 1970s feeling to it. The bluesy piano-based section later is so tasty. It brings some jazz and the guitar solo lends a bit of a Pink Floyd thing.

Smoke And Mirrors

This has a great bluesy rock vibe to it. It’s classic in sound. There are some hints of country at times here. There is a mellower pop rock portion further down the road, too.

Play It Like You Mean It

A funky rocker, this is another classy tune. It has a drum solo later. This one has some moments that feel proggy and some jam band modes at times. It’s actually one of my favorites on the album.

Austin Chill

Here we get a bluesy rocking groove. Comparisons to ZZ Top are valid, but I can make out some Allman Brothers and jam band sound here, too. This thing features some smoking hot slide guitar soloing later.

Back To Me

This has a real classic rock vibe with some definite hints of prog. It also has some funk and bluesy rock at times.

Golden Sun

There is a mellow jazz groove at play here. There is a real mellow pop rock feeling to. This makes me think of something George Benson might have done.

Florida Flash Flood

Driving and hard rocking, this feels a bit like what you might get if you merged ZZ Top and Led Zeppelin. The vocal hook has an almost Grateful Dead vibe, and there is a punky edge to the track.

See Me Go

More of a 70s classic rocker, this is not bad, but I wouldn’t consider it a highlight.

Where Magic Grows

This is a reggae based tune that works pretty well. It has some classy jamming and a lot of style built into it. It’s definitely a highlight of the set.

 
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