After a few listens of Shots Fired's self-titled album, it's really difficult to say just what makes their music so engaging. Is it the volatile, but restrained nature of the vocals, the cascading rhythms, or the disjointed, dissonant riffing? I think they all have some to contribute, and anyone listening is better off for it.
They may only be a three-piece, but the band sounds a lot âbigger' than that. Not big in the arena rock sense, but more in the sense that even with only one guitarist, it sounds like they're using two. Even with the vocalist and guitarist being the same person, both elements sound like they had separate people devoted in making them sound top-notch. Let's start with the all important vocals. "Ludo Calls the Rock" is seven songs into the album, but it's the perfect realization of the stride that the band is able to hit.
While they can loosely be categorized as a rock band, it takes a facet like the sound of the vocals to bring out the fact that categories don't matter here.
No matter the pace, no matter the rhythm, no matter the volume, the band's vocalist strongly waves the flag above everything. You're only as strong as the sum of your parts, and with parts like this, it's no wonder they're able to come off so powerfully. Every track brings out the best in his vocal qualities. Whether straining to sing the words, or effortlessly sliding over everything, it sounds pristine. But this isn't "American Idol;" there's more to music than voice. Luckily, the band's vocalist is just as well-prepared when it comes to his guitar savvy. For the most part, things stay at a medium pace, and sound a lot more complicated and discordant than they actually are. But when it's called upon him to play odd time signatures and play with some force, he's able to do it in stride. The heavy distortions, odd pace, and rhythms found in "Ragdoll" sound effortless, but in the impressive sense of the word. The bassist has a bit less to do with the band's chemistry, as he's kept muddled down a bit by the powerful guitar and drum combination, but he comes across when it's important. Next time around, I'd like to see a bit more prominent roll from the bassist, but it's really just a minor contrivance.
A minor contrivance that really doesn't nothing to detract from a strong and varied effort straight from the instruments and vocal chords of Shots Fired. They do a lot of things right, and succeed in my inability to give them a concrete contemporary comparison. Alliteration aside -- ah, see what I did there? Alright, not funny, I know, but in any event give this band a shot. You'll likely be very glad you did.