16 Sept 2004

Summit Daily News
Sons of hard rock
by Jason Starr

In addition to carrying the torch for Pink Floyd, the band Sons of Nothing is also keeping the 1980s vision of hard rock alive and well.

When its not doing tribute shows to Floyd - like Saturday night's show at the Silverthorne Pavilion - the foursome revisits the driving rhythms and straight-forward power anthems that were so popular two decades ago.

There's a tinge of influence from Metallica, Meatloaf and Motley Crüe on its second album, One Left Turn, with guitars and drums always at the forefront.

It's hard to believe this band has a second life doing Pink Floyd covers. After listening to aggressive songs like "Do Me" and "Better Than Life" you wonder how it would tone down enough for trippy and spacey songs like the Floyd classic "Shine on You Crazy Diamond."

Sons of Nothing shows a pop sensibility on its song "Misery," which ends the album after only five songs. Five songs! That's like an hour-long movie.

In fact, most movies would be better off cutting at least a half-hour from their running times, so in that context, a five-song album doesn't seem that awkward. This is all the band had to say, and that's fine. These five songs pack a lot of punch.

However, the music walks the fine line between earnestness and self-parody. Tenacious D - the hilarious Jack Black heavy metal parody band - comes to mind, singing "This is the greatest song in the world!"

The highlight and most catchy part of "One Left Turn" is the chorus on "Esperanto" - an upbeat melody that the band members harmonize to perfection.

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