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ON TOP
Top To Bottom EP

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions (2014)
Rating: 4/10

Philadelphia’s On Top get no marks for their rather bland moniker, and to be honest are way down the pecking order when it comes to their rather mediocre brand of hard rock. Top To Bottom is a four-track EP which comes some three years after 2011 debut full-length opus Top Heavy.

The trio consists of vocalist / bassist Jaron Gulino – who, if you ask me, should spend more time concentrating on his other band Mach22 – drummer Danny Piselli (Fisthammer), and new guitarist Brian Davis.

Now, the issue I have with this rather tepid release is its overall lack of punch. Considering there are only a handful of tracks on offer, none of them have the ability to stick to the ears and just kind of drift by harmlessly. My concern was that this EP would continue to feature the same faults which made their debut platter so unrewarding – vocals too loud, lack of stab in the guitar department, naff production – and it would seem that these flaws remain. Although the guitar tries so desperately to rule the roost, Gulino’s rather dull, predictable tone dominates proceedings, and yet seems bereft of personality or oomph.

This is bog standard heavy rock full of clichés and an apparent “party-on” atmosphere that never raises its head above a murmur. From the bass-lead ‘No Shame’ with its watery strut to the Mötley Crüe-influenced stomp of ‘Cold And Blue’, Top To Bottom suggests a band lacking ideas and invention – despite the occasional stirring leads and hard-hitting percussion. On Top are just another rock ’n’ roll band fighting their way through the crowd, but a band who will get knocked back time and time again due to their lack of strength and shine.

‘Don’t Go’ half-heartedly trundles in on a sleazy, yet basic riff while closer ‘Bad Love’ appears to be the only track that provides any sort of jab to the head, but it’s still rock by numbers. With extremely average lyrics and a vocal yelp that just fails to move me, I just don’t see On Top going anywhere fast.

Top To Bottom is a prime example as to why the metal genre at the moment is mostly stale; there are too many acts churning out unremarkable albums in their quest for rock ’n’ roll rebellion, but what is clear is that a majority of these groups lack the songwriting prowess and technicality, let alone ideas, to create something above the mundane. I’m relieved that On Top has only offered four tracks this time, because I don’t think I could put up with another album of such ordinary detail.

Neil Arnold

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