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
November 2024
- Voodoo Circle: Hail To The King
- Lionville: Supernatural
- Starchaser: Into The Great Unkown
- Empires Of Eden: Guardians Of Time
- Lonerider: Down In The Dust
- Seventh Crystal: Entity
- Neal Morse & The Resonance: No Hill For A Climber
- Beardfish: Songs For Beating Hearts
- Impellitteri: War Machine
- Brothers Of Metal: Fimbulvinter
October 2024
- Casandra's Crossing: Garden Of Earthly Delights
- DGM: Endless
- Daytona: Garder la Flamme
- Fate: Reconnect 'N Ignite
- Frost*: Life In The Wires
- Aries Descendant: From The Ashes Of Deceit
- Fans Of The Dark: Video
- Radioactive: Reset
- House Of Lords: Full Tilt Overdrive
- Cleanbreak: We Are The Fire
September 2024
- Sinner's Blood: Dark Horizons
- Serious Black: Rise Of Akhenaton
- Eclipse: Megalomanium II
- SteelCity: Reverence
- Hydra: ReHydrated
- Heartwind: III
- Gabrielle De Val and the Dragonlords: Tiger
- Find Me: Nightbound
- The Nail: The Nail
- Timeless Fairytale: A Story To Tell
- Stryper: When We Were Kings
- Phil Mogg: Moggs Motel
- Pure Reason Revolution: Coming Up To Consciousness
- Jordan Rudess: Permission To Fly
August 2024
- Siege Perilous: Creation's Call EP
- Paralydium: Universe Calls
- Mike Tramp: Songs Of White Lion Vol. II
- Bite The Bullet: Looking For Paradise
- All For Metal: Gods Of Metal (Year Of The Dragon)
- Hammerfall: Avenge The Fallen
- Jim Peterik & World Stage: Roots & Shoots Vol. 2
Downspirit: Bulletproof?
Downspirit: Bulletproof?
Modern Heavy Rock
4.5/5.0
Website
Facebook
Metalville Records
by Craig Hartranft, 08.09.2012
When first introduced in 2010, Cédric 'Cede' Dupont's Downspirit was pitched as a blend of heavy metal and blues. While Point of Origin was quite good, it never really accomplished that goal, at least to these ears. It seemed more a modern heavy metal album.
Downspirit: late from the thrift shop.
With this year's Bulletproof?, Dupont gets much closer to that goal. It's also a more effective and accessible album. Downspirit blends strong melodies and hooks with modern d-tuned heavy rock, a touch of that blues thing, for versatile and entertaining results.
That blues element sometimes comes at the start of a song as on Life After Her and the steel guitar of Are You Proud?, one of the best songs here. Other times it laces its way through the entire song as found Hellyeah, I'm a Survivor, The Look, but also the aforementioned Are You Proud?.
Yet, mostly Bulletproof? is a rocking good time, made better by those huge hooks and excellent vocal arrangments. Regarding the latter, the youngsters will like the dash of slightly 'hardcore' vocals within the The Wish and Human Gift, in addition to the modern d-tuned style. But between the excellent musicianship and fine songwriting, Downspirit is ahead of their peers. They've got the stuff to surpass the Nickelbacks of the world with ease. Easily recommended.
Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.
TweetIn Short
With Bulletproof, Downspirit hits their groove with quite catchy modern, d-tuned, heavy rock, loaded with great melodies, big hooks, and a touch of the blues.
Find A Review
Alphabetical Index
New & Notable
eviewing my archives, I was pleased to find that I have had the privilege to review every Lionville since their self-titled debut in 2011. Formed by Stefano Lionetti, a songwriter, singer and guitarist based in ... [ Read More ]