Michigan’s Pop Evil just finished tearing up the states with Rev Theory on the Monster Energy Outbreak Tour, and now they've teamed up with Papa Roach and Finger Eleven. The tour will breach Boise on Tuesday, May 3rd at the Kntting Factory. Pop Evil's sophomore album, War Of Angels, is ready for mass consumption. While the label and/or management have held up the original February 8th release date, fans who have heard the first single “Last Man Standing”, or the free download of “Save The World” on their Facebook page, know this album’s going to be a beast.
War Of Angels is heavier than their Lipstick On The Mirror debut, and vocalist Leigh Kakaty feels the new album really defines the band’s sound. He even went so far as to say that this is more realistically the “true” debut album of Pop Evil.
The band had the good fortune of hunkering down in Chicago for 6 months with producer Johnny K (Airbourne, Disturbed, Sevendust, Machine Head) who milked every drop of sweat from the band, and made them earn this record.
Metalholic and the Boise Examiner recently sat down with Leigh to discuss the Outbreak tour, the new record, their tour with metal icons, Judas Priest, and we got him to reveal what band he’d truly love to tour with if he had a time machine. So listen to Part 1 of our interview in the video box here, and head over to Metalholic for Part 2. Read our album review below:
Pop Evil ~ War Of Angels (Universal/Republic)
Release date: TBA
A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Pop Evil vocalist Leigh Kakaty. At the time I’d only heard a few random tracks from their forthcoming sophomore album. Now that I’ve had ample time to settle in with War Of Angels, it becomes quite clear why Kakaty feels like this is really more like a debut album than the first. War Of Angels is a more defining album of who the band is musically. With many young bands, their debut records are often driven by label intervention and pressure. With this record the band had an opportunity to showcase their truer nature. War Of Angels is much heavier overall than Lipstick On The Mirror, and listening to the record you still get the Pop Evil feel, but with more balls.
As we went through the first decade of the new century, rock and metal received an infusion of the classic 70′s sound. Now that we have entered our second decade, a renewed wave of 80′s arena rock blending in with today’s hard rock and metal sound. More testosterone and less AquaNet, but all the great feel good, crank it up to 11 and lose your mind rock and roll.
The only question now is when fans will get to hear it. A month has passed since the announced release date was pushed back to a “To Be Announced” date, but we’ll likely see it hit the market sometime in the next 30-45 days. And trust me, it’s worth the wait. War Of Angels is a serious dose of Viagra for the ears. If this record doesn’t make you rock, hard, you’re likely dead or deaf.
Producer Johnny K (Airbourne, Disturbed, Sevendust, Machine Head) has helped elevate the band and this album to the next level on War Of Angels, and you can hear his intensity as well as the band’s passion for making this project an epic release that can endure for years.
The record kicks off with the album’s first single, “Last Man Standing” which is a hard driving, in your face, headbanger loaded with crunchy guitars and a right cross to the chin. Most album’s these days seem to front load one or two solid tracks at the beginning and the album gets progressively weaker from there on out, but believe me when I say, this opening volley is just the foundation for what’s to come.
Before you can even catch your breath, the band cranks it up another notch, carving an “Epitaph” in your chest. This song is an angry, chew you up and spit you out, horns-up anthem, with lots of thick guitar rhythms.
“Broken and Betrayed” is an angst driven number, which kicks off with a sweet rolling guitar riff, that takes us down a moody melodic path to the infectious chorus.
By this point you’re about ready to slow it down, and the band obliges with a beautiful aching piece, “Monster You Made”, which could be as much about the the lover who has broken you down, or a face to face look at the monster in the mirror.
Erase this monster I’ve become
Forgive me for all the damage done
It’s not over, say it’s not over
I’m begging for mercy
I’m only the Monster You Made me
For fans of classic 80′s arena-lighter songs in the power ballad mold, “Let It Go” should fill the ache nicely.
Then the band revs it up again, with the chugging rocker, “Boss’ Daughter”. This track is pure ear candy addiction.
Next up is “Daisy Chain”, which kicks off with an opening riff and chorus that brings to mind, The Cult.
“Purple” is another dynamic, almost poetic gem of a lost-love song. “It only hurts when I’m sober…”
The crunchy grinding guitars return in an edgy gallop for “Black & Blue”.
The album wraps up with “Next Life” followed by the catchy arena anthem, “Save The World”, which fans can get for free right now if the simply LIKE the band’s Facebook page.
The album’s bonus track, “Good With The Bad”, recalls Southern rock, with a Lynyrd Skynyrd meets The Black Crowes vibe.
War Of Angels has no filler tracks, and sets the stage for Pop Evil to ascend a few rungs up the rock hierarchy. It’s strong from top to bottom, and you’ll be hard pressed to pry it from your CD player or iPod once you get your ears on it. War Of Angels brings us the battle of good versus Pop Evil.
Now if the label can just give us a new release date, we can all start marking the days until we can rock this bad boy off its rims.
Warning: If you experience an aural erection lasting longer than 4 hours, count yourself lucky and crank it up.
Rating: 9.4/10
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