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Tragik: Outlaw

Tragik: Outlaw

Melodic Hard Rock
Rating: 3.75/5.0

PVM Records
www.philvincent.com
www.myspace.com/tragikrox
Added March 28, 2009
Review: Craig Hartranft

Here are two important pieces of advice about Phil Vincent's latest Tragik album 'Outlaw.' First, don't be fooled by the totally Photoshopped album cover with terrible band logo, the retarded sheriff's gold star, and the hot looking half naked chick. Got your attention with that last thing, didn't I? It's got nothing to do with music inside. Rather, it's a blatant attempt to pander to your most banal instincts, and I'll bet it's working too. (Oh, by the way, there's another chick on the back.) Second, if you want to truly appreciate this album, skip the first song and come back to it later. It's not that it's a bad song; actually it's quite good if not too long. It's just a mundane start, a bit too plodding. Vincent did not put his best foot forward with '... In The Name Of ...'

With this information in mind, you can proceed to enjoy Tragik's 'Outlaw,' a collection of tunes that visits an eclectic variety of styles from milder AOR and melodic rock to metal-like hard rock. The songs in the former category are mediocre to slightly better than average. 'Everything Changes' is depressingly monotonous AOR which favors the vocal arrangement. 'You Are Everything To Me' is completely destroyed by some horribly weird keyboard elements. Better songs include 'Forgive Me' and 'Loneliness' where both have stylish vocal arrangements and fine fret work; yet, both could also have been shortened.

The real gems on 'Outlaw' fall squarely in the melodic hard rock category where Vincent and company lay down heavier riffs and bring more intensity to both the songs and the performance. Songs like 'Go Down Fightin,' 'Give it Up,' and 'Two Timer' are basic hard rockers with memorable riffs and definite attitude. 'On The Side' and the impressive 'Just Can't Get Enough' blur the line between melodic hard rock and heavy metal thanks to the heavier riffs and awesome guitar solos. All these songs have a tougher, ballsy, and more anxious quality than anything else on 'Outlaw' that I wonder how the two coexist. The latter songs should beat the crap out of the other ones and kick them off the disc.

Phil Vincent shows once again on Tragik's 'Outlaw' that he can deliver the melodic rock goods. But, the best stuff comes when he gets hard, heavy and lights a fire to the music. After that everything else is just fluff.

In Short

Phil Vincent shows once again on Tragik's 'Outlaw' that he can deliver the melodic rock goods. But, the best stuff comes when he gets hard, heavy and lights a fire to the music. After that everything else is just fluff.

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