MUSIC REVIEW: NIKKI STRINGFIELD – Apocrypha

Label: Independent

Release Date: September 29, 2023

Rating: 90%

Reviewer: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur

Nikki Stringfield has unleashed a solo record unlike most from other six-string slingers… she takes the lead behind the guitar and the mic.  Disc opener “No Surrender” is a cool launch pad for the disc that features solos, pings, squeals, some chugging riffs, and some cool lead vocals that not only fit the sound of the guitars but also the overall groove of the track.  Nikki has constructed a cool vibe that permeates the song and grabs your attention.  “The Spell” is a solid rocker that has a contagious vibe woven into it, especially on the chorus.  The guitar work and breakdown on the bridge are an exciting listen that takes on a slightly different vibe than most of the other tracks… until that killer solo kicks down the door before the final chorus run.  “The Outsider” takes on a different groove from the onset with an almost bluesy sound that shifts to classic metal before the verse hits.  Stringfield’s vocals swirl nicely in the mix with the instrumentation, especially the layered parts that add depth to the song.  The slower rhythm of the track allows you to settle in and enjoy the guitar nuances sprinkled across the track like fine spices in a gourmet dish… just enough to pay attention, but not changing the overall flavor.  “Save Me” is one of my favorite tracks on the disc due to its stripped back simplicity.  The guitar work is some of the best from Stringfield and the ballad-like approach to the disc allows us to enjoy not only some killer guitar work, but also Nikki’s voice.  Nothing is forced on this tune, from the steady bottom end to the clean fretboard work to the lush vocal.  “Flesh And Bones” brings the metal from the opening and doesn’t relent through its five minutes of rocking.  The guitars on the intro come off like a twin six-string attack we are accustomed to from bands like Priest and Maiden.  The vocals on this one are different and remind me of different female-led recordings from the mid to late 1980’s.  I love that this track takes me back sonically without sounding rehashed or overdone.  “As Chaos Consumes” is another metal track that features more of the pings, squeals, and soaring solos and runs we have been given throughout the disc.  The slight time changes in the track add punch at times and help this one stand out.

“Where The Demons Lie” is a straight forward rocker that features some churning and chugging riffs that carry the track from start to finish while Stringfield’s vocals are draped perfectly across the track.  The solo laced through the intro has great tone and caught my attention from the first listen.  “Lunacy” sounds modern while accentuating Nikki’s love of and influences from the fun hard rock and metal sound of the mid-late 80’s.  The guitars are pulled together perfectly with a solid bottom end that anchors the track and providing a great musical landscape for vocals to roam across.  The sonic changes at the chorus add punch to the track and show her flexing her metal muscles.  “Kiss From A Rose” is exactly the track you expect and Nikki delivers the massive hit in her own way.  The opening lulls you in with a beautiful acoustic piece that seems to point in one direction, but as the verse hits, we are given a hard rock treatment of the song that enhances power of the lyrics with chugging riffs and soaring solos.  “Wasting Away” is a solid rocker that incorporates nuances from a lot of the other tracks to create a song that sounds familiar, regardless of whether you have actually heard it before.  The guitar work on the bridge is cool as hell and a great piece to toss into the mix of this track.  The drum fills on this one standout throughout the song.  “Sweet Insanity” unfolds beautifully with less aggression but all the intensity of the other songs on this collection.  Much like “Save Me,” this one strips back a lot of the searing solos and heavy rhythm section and gives us another unfettered listen to Stringfield’s vocals that are strewn across the musical landscape of this track.  The chugging riffs and solos tossed into the bridge, transitions, and second verse effectively connect the different facets of the song and disc overall.  Disc closer “Unite” has an interesting swirl of acoustic guitars and vocals in the mix to open the song and gives us a cool different look at Nikki as a player, singer, and writer.  This is a great end to the disc, as it prompts you to replay the whole disc again just to catch some of the other underlying nuances you may have missed.  All that’s missing now is tour dates.  I would love to see and hear most of these tracks live.

Tracklisting: No Surrender – The Spell – Where The Demons Lie – The Outsider – Lunacy – Save Me – Kiss From A Rose – Flesh And Bones – Wasting Away – As Chaos Consumes – Sweet Insanity – Unite

NIKKI STRINGFIELD LINKS:

OFFICIAL SITE

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

INSTAGRAM

APOCRYPHA – ITUNES

Category: CD Reviews