Music Reviews: Ollocs - "Ollocs EP"

Instrumental music has been around for many ages. Some of it good, some not so much. For an instrumental band to really keep a listeners attention you must have talent and a skill to captivate. To really hold the audience in your grip and take them to a place that sparks the imagination. It's easier said than done. Being a fan of hard rock and some progressive music, I fell in love with Ollocs, a band from North Babylon, NY who's new EP is a mind bending explosion of sounds and musical exploration.

This trio of talented players really shine on tracks like "Countdown", "Cinque" and "Asteria". Not shying away from obvious influences like Rush, Dream Theater and Queensryche the band make songs that not only hold your attention, but blow your mind with melody and power. Zach Vanderberg (guitar), Russell Frohberg (bass) and Andrew Bieler (drums) have the talent and charisma to be the new leaders of the prog rock revolution of 2012. The playing is tight and the production is pretty good as well. It's just a solid effort from this up and coming band.

The music can really take you away to another place if you let it. It's majestic feel and intensity take hold and never let you go. And when you think it can't get any better, it does! "Til Dawn" is a prime example. It stars out with noodle heavy riffs, before going into a dreamy sequence mid way, then finishes heavy with killer soloing by Vanderberg. Even Frohberg gets in on the action with a scorching bass solo that would make Geddy Lee proud. To say Ollocs is a great band is putting it mildly. I see a bright future ahead for this band who has already shared the stage with bands like Sevendust and Taproot. Ollocs have the talent and the drive to be a driving force in the hard rock world. Now if record execs could only stop swinging from the nuts of no talent, auto tuned infected, music stealing top 40 schnooks, maybe this band can get the recognition they so greatly deserve.

4 ½ / 5 stars