Medusa Glare is the self-titled debut album for the four-piece Hamilton rock act. Coming up to their fourth anniversary since their creation they have released this four-track EP, all with track lengths in the four-minute range (anybody else thinks they should have named the EP Four or IV?).
Medusa Glare’s opening track Rock Your World has a very classic rock sound, with a slight Australian twang, having similarities in sound to Jimmy Barnes/Cold Chisel, and some ACDC-
Take the Fall has an incredibly funky track, while The Rust Divine has a heavy Pink Floyd influence to the guitar side, both of these tracks having a strong Led Zeppelin flair to them vocally, adding to the 70’s sound that Medusa Glare has created. Tracking at 4:49, The Rust Divine is both the longest track on the EP and the standout track on the release. Simple instruments are well balanced, and Galu’s vocals fitting somewhere between Robert Plant and grunge era legend, Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell. Displaying the clarity of the clean voice with the grittiness and power, with a good range of highs and lows, it all fitted really well together.
Overall, an enjoyable album to listen to, and for those that love the 70’s music, it’s great to have original music created with that same style, but I would really love to see a little bit more complexity in the drumming fills, and more presence from the bass guitar. Medusa Glare has that same heavy, guitar-driven sound and passionate full-bodied vocals that led to the emergence of heavy metal. Much more than pub rock.
Review written by Alex Moulton
Medusa Glare are an exciting and powerful new rock outfit.
This ambitious group was formed in Hamilton, New Zealand in 2014 by Simon Koretz-guitar/vocals, and Rick Walker-drums. They released their debut single and video No Tomorrow in April 2014.
The intention was always to source a fitting frontman and bassist, and within months the line -up was complete with the addition of the incredible Jason Galu on lead vocals and Nathan Waters on bass and back-up vocals.