Sons of Alpha Centauri - 2021 - Push

(34:42; Exile on Mainstream)






















Track list:
1. Get the Guns 4:15
2. Listen 3:46
3. The Enemy 4:35
4. Push 3:23
5. Buried Under 3:26
6. Boys and Girls 3:24
7. Saturn 3:56
8. Dark Night 4:27
9. Own 3:30

Line-up:
Jonah Matranga - vocals
Marlon King - guitars
Nick Hannon - bass
Mitch Wheeler - drums
Stevie B - drums
Blake - electronics


UK band Sons of Alpha Cenaturi have clocked in a good 20 years of activity, with a handful or so of albums to their name so far. "Push" is the name of their latest studio album, which was released through German label Exile on Mainstream Records in the summer of 2021.

It is a difficult to define variety of hard rock that this latest incarnation of Sons of Alpha Centauri has to offer this time around. Tight passages with atmospheric laden elements live side by side with harder, more majestic as well as gnarly and dirty guitar riff driven escapades, with some songs and passages closer to being a hard but elegant take on post-punk, while other creations move in closer to grunge territories. Tight and energetic stoner rock is on display here, but also grittier affairs that are much closer to being hardcore and even metal inspired. A slight metal undercurrent is present in many songs as a matter of fact, albeit more in terms of intensity and less in terms of the manner in which the material is performed as such.

The vocals have a big role to play here, with vocalist Matranga opting for a more laid back mode of delivery for most parts, but hitting out with a tighter, more aggressive and emotional style when this is called upon. This duality in the vocal department is used to very good effect throughout to create dramatic impact moments, and presumably also to emphasize certain aspects as far as the lyrics are concerned. Otherwise I note that keyboards are used carefully and to good effect to add a softer, contrasting layer of sound, especially in the more atmospheric laden sections, and that the guitars will also provide both gentler supporting details and elegant, delicate solo runs when needed.

"Push" strikes me as a well planned and well executed album, with a fair deal of variation that possibly can be sorted in the alternative hard rock department, and then arguably with a post-something label attached. Post-punk meets hard rock with a slight metal undercurrent, explored inside a post alternative context somewhere. If a well executed example of this sounds intriguing, then there's a good chance that this is an album that you'll be able to appreciate.

Olav M. Björnsen, September 2021

Links:
http://www.sonsofalphacentauri.co.uk/
https://www.mainstreamrecords.de/

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