MACH22
Sweet Talk Intervention
Self-released (2014)
Rating: 8/10
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Every now and then you hear a band that could well be “the next big thing”, and with Philadelphia’s Mach22 we could well indeed have the next big thing. Now, when I hear a band described as “a mix between Led Zeppelin and Lenny Kravitz” I expect to hear that in the music, and often with such flattering descriptions a band fails to live up to expectation, but with Mach22 it’s a case of believe the hype!
The reason these guys have opened up for artists such as Slash, Cheap Trick, Cinderella’s Tom Keifer and, rather oddly, Steel Panther, is because they are an energetic, soulful, funky flavoured rock ’n’ roll band who you are going to have to take notice of.
Fronted by the versatile Lamont Caldwell and featuring guitarist Sebastian LaBar (son of Cinderella axe-man Jeff LaBar), Mach22 are the sort of band we so desperately need in our life; the sort of combo which embraces traditional rock but fuses it with varying styles and, above all, makes it work without thought of this being insincere or forced. Mach22 also feature the talents of bassist Jaron Gulino, who once plied his trade by playing extreme metal, rhythm guitarist Ted Merrill and drummer Damian MonteCarlo.
The band take us on a high octane journey through their debut ten-track opus; the kind of record that has the pulsating power and swagger of classic Guns N’ Roses mixed with the sleazy snarl of Aerosmith, the bombastic pomp of Led Zeppelin and with a dash of funk and soul thrown in for good measure.
From the hip-shaking opener ‘Constant Denier’ right through to the closing ‘Nevermind’ – with its slamming drums and jerking, punky guitar – this is what some people will call a real rock ’n’ roll album; one which flows naturally and isn’t reliant on a boozy image or riddled with dumb clichés. Caldwell’s style is simple and effortless. Always soulful his tones drift without strain over the cool, whipped grooves of ‘Go Ahead’, with its rattling bass, and the album’s monster track, ‘Don’t You Give Me’, which blusters into the room with pure Led Zeppelin-ish strut, and yet offers something less assuming but still as cocksure. The chorus is a breeze; an almost casual croon over a killer riff. And the class continues with the jolting bass and prodding drum intro of ‘I’m Just A Man’ and the reflective hum of ‘Stone Rose’, which has more in common with Jimi Hendrix.
Many bands with potential are thrown into the lion’s den and picked apart by critics due to a certain lacking, but Mach22 have all the qualities it takes to be the next name on everyone’s lips. With an extra touch of oomph the subsequent opus should be that which sees Mach22 as headliners rather than followers. Sweet Talk Intervention has enough funk in its trunk to keep your foot tapping, your knee jerking and your hips shaking.
Neil Arnold
