Dangerdog Music Reviews :: © 1999 - 2024 Craig S Hartranft :: All Rights Reserved
No part of this this website, including design and music reviews,
may be reproduced in any form or by any means without
the prior written permission of the publisher.
- New Music Reviews
- |
- Archives
- |
- News
- |
- Submissions
- |
- About
- |
- |
New Music Reviews, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Progressive Rock, Progressive Metal, AOR, Alternative Rock, Alternative Metal
Recent Reviews
April 2024
- Vanden Plas: The Empyrean Equation Of The Long Lost Things
- Praying Mantis: Defiance
- King Zebra: Between The Shadows
- About Us: Take A Piece
- Blue Oyster Cult: Ghost Stories
March 2024
- Cruzh: The Jungle Revolution
- Whom Gods Destroy: Insanium
- The Prog Collective: Dark Encounters
- Lords Of Black: Mechanics Of Predacity
- Lipz: Changing The Melody
- The End Machine: The Quantum Phase
- Stargate: Escaping The Illusion
- Turbulence: Binary Dream
- Sonata Arctica: Clear Cold Beyond
- D'Luna: Monster
- Big Big Train: The Likes Of Us
- Benjamin Croft: We Are Here To Help
February 2024
- Traveler: Prequel To Madness
- Lionheart: The Grace Of A Dragonfly
- Honeymoon Suite: Alive
- Durbin: Screaming Steel
- Smoking Snakes: Danger Zone
- Revolution Saints: Against The Winds
- Striker: Ultrapower
- Show N Tell: The Ritual Has Begun
- Robert Hart: Circus Life
January 2024
- Corvus: Immortals
- Caligula's Horse: Charcoal Grace
- Grand: Second To None
- Neal Morse: The Restoration - Joseph - Part Two
- The Rods: Rattle The Cage
- Gotus: Gotus
- Metalite: Expedition One
- Cobrakill: Serpent's Kiss
- Jack Russell & Tracii Guns: Medusa
- Jim Peterik & World Stage: Roots & Shoots Vol. 1
- The Grandmaster: Black Sun
Margate: On the Other Side
Margate: On the Other Side
Alt/Punk/Pop Rock
Rating: 4.0/5.0
Room57 Records
www.margatemusic.com
www.myspace.com/margate
Review: Craig Hartranft, 12.14.2009
Based in Southern California, three-piece rock band Margate has been garnering some regional attention and a strong fan base with their infectious brand of modern rock. On the Other Side is their second full-length release since forming in 2003, and it's an entertaining representation of their muscular musicianship and songwriting skills.
Drawing from modern influences such as Foo Fighters, Jimmy Eat World, and Weezer, Margate combines the bravado of punk with melodic pop rock sensibility for clever results. With only three members, the accurate and energetic musicianship creates ocean of sound within each song. Better, Margate is not adverse to crafting songs beyond simple chords and clever hooks. Songs like In My Life, Time & Time Again, and Circles show arrangements with well-developed and intriguing twists from the diverse use of vocal harmonies and time signature. In other words, Margate is a step above much of the current alternative rock fair posing as novel.
In addition to these fine attributes, Margate displays both maturity and wit in their songcraft. The tongue is placed firmly in cheek on the clever and fun songs Believe in Steve and My Dog Duke. Unchecked Aggression finds Margate more serious when considering gun violence. Between the impressive song composition and deft musicianship, Margate's On the Other Side delivers sophisticated modern alt rock that trumps most of their peers.
In Short
Between the impressive song composition and deft musicianship, Margate's On the Other Side delivers sophisticated modern alt rock that trumps most of their peers.
Find A Review
Alphabetical Index
New & Notable
Three years have passed since Sweden's Cruzh dropped their second long-player, Tropical Thunder, also introducing their new singer, Alex Waghorn. Now the band returns with The Jungle Revolution ... [ Read More ]