Recent Reviews

October 2024

September 2024

August 2024

July 2024

June 2024

[ More Music Reviews ]


Radio Free Universe: Casa Del Diablo
Radio Free Universe Casa Del Diablo CD Album Review

Radio Free Universe: Casa Del Diablo

Melodic Hard Rock
4.0/5.0

Just west of the Niagara Falls lies Hamilton and the home base for Candadian rockers Radio Free Universe. Started in 2010 by vocalist and songwriter George Panagopoulas, guitarist Ryan Davie, and drummer Ashton Norman the band delivers their debut album Casa Del Diablo, with new bassist Adam Neumann, and mixed and mastered by Glen Robinson (Voivod, Gwar).

Radio Free Universe Band Photo

Radio Free Universe

Radio Free Universe may be a modern hard rock band, but they are heavily rooted in classic rock, even retro rock. Their sound is a sweet merger of Eighties classic rock with some Seventies blues and groove and maybe a touch of post grunge d-tune. The songs are equally heavy and bristling, thick brisk riffage being embraced by a deep bottom end of rhythm and groove. And they do most of this in three minutes, or sometimes much less. The songs are packed full no wasted riffs or beats Lyrically, Panagopoulas writes from his experience of living in the United States for some time (which means from an American's perspective he probably doesn't understand us at all).

As for the songs, you can't miss the downbeat and groove rampant in most every song. Heavier riff and bass busting numbers come with American Gun, DMT, and Dirty Little Things. You'll feel and hear that blues groove within Rhythm And Bones, 18 Wheels, Magnolia Girl, and the acoustic guitar driven Armageddon Road. With Disclosure, perhaps the best song here, you get the bounce of AOR accessibility, thanks to the superb blend of catchy riffs, monster groove, and a melodic and varied vocal arrangement.

Essentially, Radio Free Universe and Casa Del Diablo rock the new century by making the old school the new school with their heavier, bluesy melodic hard rock. Try to keep up. Recommended.

Radio Free Universe - Disclosure



CraigHartranft.net - New fiction, crime fiction by Craig Hartranft

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

The Bottom Line

Essentially, Radio Free Universe and Casa Del Diablo rock the new century by making the old school the new school with their heavier, bluesy melodic hard rock. Try to keep up. Recommended.

Find A Review

Alphabetical Index

a b c d e f g h i j
k l m n o p q r s t
u v w x y z #
New & Notable
Read the Eclipse: Megalomanium II Album Review

By far, Sweden's Eclipse is one of my favorite bands. Always consistent and always entertaining, Eclipse has been delivering their 21st century version of melodic metal rock since songwriter, producer ... [ Read More ]