ย The three member alternative rock project reaLation. (not easy to type with auto-correct!) will unleash their 90s reminiscent EP โWhat Lies Beneathโ later this month
The group, which consists of guitarist and vocalist Steve Feliciano, bassist and vocalist Vincent Lane and drummer Matt Loucks, aim to deliver songs dealing with real world problems and concerns, and songs which ultimately help us relate to one another.
NOT MEANT FOR ME
The EP begins on a strong note with the blistering โNot Meant For Me,โ which brings to mind the best of 90s grunge, coupled with eastern-tinged guitar riffs, making a for a great rock opener. โMy heart will know what to believe, cause I cannot steal something in you not meant for meโ is the refrainโs main line, signifying that the singer will stay true both to himself and his love interest. If it is not meant for someone, then it shall not be taken. The sentiment is honest, and comes from a good place, which sets the tone for the EPโs other tracks.
The second track in the sequence is โSelfish,โ which continues with the hard rock meets eastern sounding riffs, which work to great effect, especially for fans of this type of music. The song deals with addiction and recovery, as the lyrics โabsorb your liquor selfish, you always evade what you should ownโ are delivered, and then culminating in โI was once like you, Iโm no longer there, the difference between us is the work done over here.โ The singer seems to be saying, I have made it, and you keep wallowing in your own selfish web. However, therein lies the possibility to make it.
The setโs third song is โFor Your Information,โ which continues in a headstrong rock direction, minus the eastern instrumentation. The song also continues with the addiction subject matter, where the singer is again the recovered one, telling the other โfor your information your omission is an admission,โ and โfor your information, leave it or leave me alone.โ Another strong track, including some great vocalization from the band.
GUILT HANGOVER
Things lighten up a bit for the EPโs fourth track โGuilt Hangoverโ before heading into a heavy and soaring chorus. The song deals with enablers and enabling, as the lyric states โI canโt lend a guiding hand, my demon is one of rescuingโ. Again, very similar to the best of 90s grunge, but with a seemingly more updated subject matter. Where the 90s and a tendency to seem utterly hopeless, these songs carry the positivity of recovery, or at least, show the possibility of it.
ISABELLA
ย ย ย ย The final track is the ballad โIsabella,โ which had been released to YouTube in 2020. It is the softest song on the album, and bemoans a woman alone in her suffering. โItโs a sad life to live, lonesome within her fortress walls.โ The song crescendos into a guitar solo, before tapering off and leaving the project on a softer tone. ย ย ย ย To summarize, the 5 song EP โWhat Lies Beneathโ takes the listener on an effective and enjoyable hard rock trip, sometimes very reminiscent of the 1990s, or even late 1980s, but with updated subject matter. The vocals and musicianship are excellent and will no doubt please rock music fans eager for something new, and something with an ultimately positive message.