Heavy Rock

LIVE SHOW REVIEW: REBA MEYERS AT THE MOROCCAN LOUNGE

When it was announced that Reba Meyers would be going on a solo tour, I knew I had to go. Reba’s Clouded World EP recently was released and after my first listen through, I had a feeling live these songs would be even more special. On a quite perfect Sunday evening in Downtown Los Angeles at The Moroccan Lounge, Reba Meyers definitely left a lasting impression on me and it was one of the most genuine and artistic performances I’ve seen all year.

With minimal lights on, the right amount of ambient noise and armed with guitars galore, Reba took the stage intro t of an audience that was enthralled from the first note. Songs like “Got Your Hold On Me,” “Clouded World,” were breathtaking live. The passion that was pouring out during was real and you could feel it from the stage to the audience. One song in particular “Bring Us All Together” really struck a chord with me. There was something else about this song that gave me chills in the best way possible. It’s one of those songs that can lock you in a trance. When the set was over, I didn’t want it to end. The couple of new songs Reba played has me even more excited for what’s to come on her upcoming full length album.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the direct support band of the night, Melted Bodies. This was the first time I’ve heard or seen this band and I loved every second of it. It’s part industrial metal, part punk and part experimental/psychedelic and they definitely had my attention. Playing against a very stark and dim lighting, Melted Bodies were captivating and have a driving rhythm section that is infectious. I’m definitely keeping this band on my radar!

All in all this was a great show and evening. It’s shows like this and artists like Reba that keeps me doing Audioeclectica and still loving music as much as I do. Truly you should really check out Reba’s music as well as Melted Bodies.

Overall Show Rating: A

Review and Photos By: Brian Lacy

Reba Photos:

Melted Bodies:

ALBUM REVIEW: REBA MEYERS- CLOUDED WORLD

When I first heard Reba Meyers was going to be releasing solo material, I got quite excited. After seeing her other band Code Orange a while back, I could tell there was more to Reba than just this band. There was a ferociousness that was just waiting to be unleashed. We already knew her guitar playing was top notch but the vocals took it all to another level and showed that Reba was the one in that band that had “the whole package.” Even when Reb guested on the Greg Puciato song “Lowered,” you could tell that Reba was well on her own path. And now here we are with Reba’s first release as a solo artist, Clouded World. This six song EP is full of dark, moody and melodic grooves and deeply personal and poetic lyrics and vocals.

There are many things to unpack on this release. As I mentioned the lyrics are very personal and poetic. The vocal delivery is otherworldly. You definitely hear and feel all the words sung. This is one of my favorite things about artists like Reba, the authenticity is 100% real. Musically, there are loads of influences and inspirations packed into these songs. On one hand you have some very heavy rock driven songs that have this attitude and bite to it with soaring melodies on top. Then you have more delicate atmospheric songs that explore a more etherial side with a bit of electronic elements to further open the space. All while still being poetic.

Clouded World has fast become one of my favorite releases of 2025. I eagerly await Reba’s full length debut which will be out in 2026. The tour kicks off today, and I’m very excited to see Reba live and hear these songs come to life when the Los Angeles date comes up on August 24th. Do yourself a favor and put this record on and let it take you places you haven’t been in a while!

Overall Rating: A

Standout Tracks: ALL

Written By: Brian Lacy

Reba Meyers- Clouded World EP:

The Videos:

Clouded World:

Got Your Hold On Me:

Certain Uncertainty:

NEW RELEASE: THE ANTI-GROUPIES- CIGARETTE SLUT


The Anti-Groupies are band that I’ve been quite keen on for a while now. I’ve had the pleasure of booking a few shows with them over the past couple years and they’ve fast become one of my favorite LA bands. They have the songs, the musicianship, the right attitude, and a live show that will kick you in the teeth. So it’s not a surprise to me that these new songs that The Anti-Groupies are about to unveil have really taken things up a few notches. Their latest single/video for “Cigarette Slut” is a great representation of their kick ass rock and take no prisoners approach. If you haven’t yet checked out The Anti-Groupies, make this your chance to do so!


The Anti-Groupies- Cigarette Slut:

Band Of The Week: Charger

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To all the people out there that say “rock is dead,” you must be living under a rock. Rock music is alive and well. Further proof of that is the band of the week, Charger. Armed with a Motorhead sensibility of heavy fast rock, Charger is coming full speed ahead and taking no prisoners. Taking cues from inspiration like Motorhead, Black Sabbath, and Iron Maiden to name a few, Charger has given new life to rock n roll. This three piece made up of Andrew McGee (Guitar),  Jason Willer (Drums/Vocals), and Matt Freeman (Bass/Vocals…also of Rancid and Operation Ivy), has been making a name for themselves in the bay area and it’s for sure paying off. Charger has an EP out now that is one hell of a listen. It’s sure great to have a band like Charger out there, I’m stoked to hear more.

 
Charger- Charger EP:

Unsung Masterpieces: Godsmack- Awake
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There are a lot of bands out there that catch a lot of flack. Sometimes it is justified and others well it’s just unwarranted. Recently,while putting together some topic ideas for an upcoming podcast and radio show (stay tuned for that!!!), a thought crossed my mind. Why do people hate on Godsmack so much? I will admit that their name isn’t the most original and at times the lyrics are a bit juvenile but, Godsmack are a band that is absolutely necessary. Think of them more as a gateway band into heavy music. Godsmack are a really solid hard/heavy rock band, mixing bit of Alice In Chains and “Black Album” era Metallica. They emit a sense of accessibility and melody, that sometimes gets lost in translation as you delve into heavier genres. For someone that is young and is starting to get into “rock” music, a band like Godsmack is a great place to start.

The reason I mention all this and single out Godsmack, is because of how good their second album Awake is. They really stepped up their game from their debut. The sound of the album kept a “raw” edge to it, without sounding too polished. The songs were riff heavy but with a ton of groove to them. For a second record, the band shows a sense of maturity throughout the music written. You can tell on the first single “Awake” that they were trying to separate themselves from being lumped into the “nu-metal” tag, by adding guitar solos, and the song being 5 minutes long. “Sick of Life” and “Greed” are solid rock songs, minus the lyrics. Other tracks on the album like “Mistakes,” “Trippin,” “Forgive Me,” “Vampires,” “The Journey,” and “Spiral” really make this album as good as it is. The production on this album was top notch as well.

Godsmack delivered a solid heavy rock album, and continue to do so. Over the years, the juvenile lyrics have subsided and matured. Awake showed a range of songwriting. Songs that weren’t all about depression and hopelessness. Instead themes of reincarnation, and rebirth were very prevalent. The band also has a secret weapon in bassist Robbie Merrill. He has a feel to the way he plays that stands out. Guitarist Tony Rombola, is a student of the 70’s and early 90’s. He’s able to blend those two together just as Jerry Cantrell, but on a simpler level. Sully Erna, on this album started to come into his own. It wasn’t until their fourth album though, that he really found his own voice. The drums on this album are something else to be intrigued by. Tommy Stewart laid down some really great grooves. Though I will say, Shannon Larkin has really taken the songs from the first two albums and made them his own. He’s a true underrated drummer, that should get a ton more credit.

Say what you want about them but, know this, without bands like Godsmack, generations of kids wouldn’t get into heavier music. Take a listen to Godsmack’s Awake and just appreciate the music if anything.

 
Godsmack- Awake:

 

Unsung Masterpieces: Year Of The Rabbit- Self Titled
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Year Of The Rabbit was assembled and fronted by Ken Andrews of Failure fame. Soon after Ken stopped writing and performing music as ON, Andrews and ON’s drummer Tim Dow (formerly of Shiner) reached out to Dow’s friend Jeff Garber, and Solomon Snyder joined shortly thereafter. ON’s material had been created mostly by Andrews as a solo project, the harder-rocking sound of Year of the Rabbit is much closer to that of his previous band, Failure.

Their first release, the 2003 EP Hunted, was made available online only from outlets such as CD Baby, itunes, and the band themselves. The buzz from sales of the EP was enough to attract the attention of Elektra Records, who released their debut album shortly thereafter. Sadly as thing in the music business were in constant flux, Warner Music Company, was sold to a group of private investors, and many of the labels’ acts, including Year of the Rabbit, were dropped from their rosters. Two months later, Andrews declared on his official website that due to the shakeup at their label, the band had been put on indefinite hiatus.

The album itself though is a gem. This was as close as anyone who was a Failure fan was going to get to that vibe. The entire album is full of melody, hooks, and that signature tone, that so many guitarists have tried to duplicate. Lyrically this album is very deep and personal. There is not one ounce of filler either. Tracks like “Lie Down,” “Last Defense,” “Hunted,” and “Say Goodbye” are beyond stand out tracks. The instrumentation on here is simple and raw but with the right amount of polish to make it all shine through.

Though they released only one album, 10 years later this album still holds up, and sound like it fits in today more than ever. Ken Andrews was always ahead of his time it seems.

Year Of The Rabbit:

By: Brian Lacy

 

Unsung Masterpieces: Silverchair- Neon Ballroom
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As the 90’s came to an end and the music started to evolve, plenty of bands started to add other elements to their sounds to compliment the changing climates. Radiohead is a prime example. One band that really took a sharp turn was Silverchair. Their third album Neon Ballroom, took them to the next level as far as songwriting, production, and performance. Their earlier releases especially Frogstomp were full of untamed rage, despair, and teenage angst. Frogstomp was written when the band were only 14. When Neon Ballroom was released, Daniel Johns, Ben Gillies, Chris Joannou, seemed as though they finally achieved what they wanted to do musically. Lyrically, the songs were more personal and had a feel to them that could be related to just as the early 90’s “grunge” bands. Musically it went beyond the simple drums, bass and guitar, The riffs got more intricate, rhythms more complex, and a new element of strings were used. The first track on the album “Emotion Sickness” takes that approach and mixes their blend of hard rock with a bit of orchestral sounds, thus making it epic, especially at the peak of the song where Daniel sings “get out” in such pain and despair. “Ana’s Song (Open Fire)” was written about Daniel’s bout with anorexia. The first single “Anthem For The Year 2000” has the similar vibe of their previous 2 releases but this time more grown up. Other stand outs on Neon Ballroom are “Miss You Love” “Spawn Again” (which was originally featured on the Spawn Soundtrack), “Black Tangled Heart.” There really is something about this album that allows the listener to grow with the band. Not to mention that this album was name number 25 in the top 100 best Australian albums of all time. Silverchair went on to release 2 other albums after Neon Ballroom, but they don’t compare to how great this album is. Now if only they would just get back together and tour!!

Neon Ballroom:

By: Brian Lacy