SLEEPFREAK – Sleepfreak EP

Self released, May 2012
By Shane Pinnegar
9/10

They may describe themselves as Metallica meets Led Zeppelin, but there’s a lot more going on beneath the surface of SLEEPFREAK’s debut EP.

For starters, these are 6 great songs – which is damn good value for money for an EP.

The heaviness of the guitars and groove of Tom Haste & Danial Conceicoe’s rhythm section bring Zakk Wylde’s Black Label Society to mind before Metallica, and Anteni Garac’s vocals have a touch of Chris Cornell’s gravitas and depth to them.

Aaron Simich adds keyboards as well as guitar, not just content with adding some synth flourishes to add a prog flavour to a few tracks (like the Dream Theatre esque Bleed), there’s also some wonderful organ playing on Spill, bringing to mind Jon Lord guesting on a Metallica track, and a wild pipe organ groove on the genre-defying Cryptic, a standout track.

EP closer 12 Months again features Simich’s keyboards and an infectious guitar riff, with some horns and Garac’s vocals giving the song a bouncy jazzy feel, though never losing touch with it’s obvious heavy rock foundation.

“Sleepfreak” (the EP) is a bold, powerful and self-assured statement of intent, and on the strength of these six tracks alone, Sleepfreak (the band) have an exciting future ahead of them!

http://www.facebook.com/sleepfreakaustralia?ref=ts

http://www.sleepfreak.com.au

Category: CD Reviews