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Needlemouse: Needlemouse

Alternative Hard Rock/Metal

3.5/5.0

Facebook ReverbNation
Independent/Unsigned
Craig Hartranft,  01.30.2012

Needlemouse comes from North Carolina, via New York, created by bassist and vocalist Sean Bruno and guitar player Vinny Barcia. Their debut is mostly a DIY project from the start, using Pro Tools and Cakewalk software for their production, with some recording and mixing in a professional studio.

Above, Needlemouse: it says so on the wall.

Their debut is an eclectic, often inventive, platter of alternative hard rock, with a solid injection of metal. But certain currents arise, one of which is an essential rock groove with solid hooks. Another theme is the tricky, sometimes seemingly erratic, instrumentations, notably on the guitar side of things. Yet, these clever machinations affect many arrangements as well, enough so that some might want to call this almost progish. Country Town, High Heel Hold Up, and the opener Perfekt Chaos delivers some interesting maneuvers.

Mostly their hard rock is heavy, often with raspy and gruff vocals, as on Dark Sun or Where the Lizard Lives. The latter is an example of the underlying metal theme, but certainly on the modern side as the vocals near the death metal side. Alternatively, there's the post-grunge acoustic driven tune, Yellow Underwear (which I don't think has anything to do with the title), with a light electric solo.

Certainly, Needlemouse has a premium on creativity and a passion for creating sounds alternative to the mainstream. Needlemouse has the ability to be entertaining, interesting, and a bit cryptic, a rare and novel quality in our current musical times. But will it catch on? I wonder. Recommended.

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Needlemouse attempts the nearly impossible in our current musical times: to be creative, entertaining, and a bit cryptic in their music. Here's a good listen for alternative hard rock with a modern metal edge.

This album is available as a digital download from the band. Visit their ReverbNation page for more information.

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