In Roman mythology, Janus is the God of beginnings and endings, much like gates and doorways. This can also be said about the band Janus who open the door to a fresh new look and sound for a genre full of copycats and “been-there-done-that’s.” The Chicago based band has sounds reminiscent of 30 Seconds to Mars and Chevelle, with a twist of 10 Years and Switched. On their newest CD, RED RIGHT RETURN, catchy vocals with aggressive crunchy guitar rhythms amid overtones of programming get your attention right from the start.
The CD progresses well following similar song structure. However, this takes away from the individual songs because of their similar writing patterns, which makes them blend together rather than stand out. Although this is a minor con to all the great sounds and talent from this band, it reminds me of the techniques used by other bands such as Disturbed, to create their songs. But that would not stop this band from being a top hit. One could hear these songs played anywhere from small venues to large arenas.
The track that hit me the most, and happens to be there single, is the song Eyesore. This song shows what vocalist David Scotney truly has to offer, going from soft singing parts to rough like vocals and harsh screams which are comparable to the vocalist from In Flames. The guitar lines in Eyesore, done by Mike Tyranski, are also just as diverse, blending catchy pop-like chords in the chorus to razor-sharp riffs chugging away at the verse and breakdown. Nevertheless it was the guitar in the breakdown of The Nerve that kept my head bobbing and screaming “The Nerve!” With all these elements making the song stand out, you can’t forget the backbone of this band, provided by Johnny Salazar on percussion and Alan Quitman on bass. The rhythm section is a solid force from beginning of the CD to the end.
Overall RED RIGHT RETURN is a great addition to any hard rock fan and I myself am looking forward to seeing this band live. If they are able to pull off the songs live as flawlessly as they do on their CD, the band Janus is a force to be reckoned with.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jeff I am a musician out of the Philadelphia area. You can find my work with the independent band Enstride. In my time with the band I have been blessed to work with some great producer and have the amazing opportunities to share the stage with many great artists. Some of those bands have been, Hoobastank, Taproot, 40 Below Summer, Skindred, Nonpoint, Karnivool, Fair to Midland, and many more. My musical "likes" can be described as all over the place. There isn't much I don't like and not much I won't listen to. My musical influences span the whole horizon, though I will admit I am not a fan of country music. My time in the music community and love for music has taught and given me my appreciation for great music and the want to help share and promote those types of acts. I take my music very serious both in creating and reviewing and am always looking for new and exciting bands to share and help Emurg! Follow me on Twitter @enstride Follow me on Instagram at schmittj Follow at Facebook.com/enstrideband for more updates and personal page
