URA - KIA

by Alligator Jackson
(Huntington, WV)

Crank up the air guitars! Guitar fueled rock n' roll is back! URA- KIA delivers up a delicous serving of honest pure hard rock.

The recipe for URA-KIA is three parts Hydrogyn (guitarist and bassist Jeff Westlake, guitarist and slide guitarist Jeff Boggs, drummer Matt Scheen) and one part Southern Blood (vocalist Keith Ramsey).

With the energy of a new band, Hydrogyn has the chemistry of Boggs and Westlake who have jammed together for years. Throw in vocalist Keith Ramsey and Hydrogyn offers the talent that could be a super group.

Like the idea side project, the band expands the boundaries that tend to limit established bands that have to please fan bases. There are not any lines here as the band delivers swamp kicking southern rock on "Queen of Sorrow."

Guitar propelled backed by rocking harmonia, "Queen of Sorrow" combines "Maurader" era Blackfoot with early Aerosmith. In fact, Ramsey takes off on a Stephen Tyler inspired "bopa bopa doo wow" tirade. Southern rock is revisited on "The Hunting Fields" which serves a guitar intro to "Givin' Ur Luv Away". "Givin' Ur Luv Away" features a great performance from Hydrogyn singer Julie Westlake on backing vocals.

The band cruises into experimental territory fusing together class inspirations and modern power on "Calm Before The Storm" and "Fill Our Souls." On these two cuts, Boggs and Westlake expand into uncharted guitar territory. "Fill Our Souls" rocks like a modern rock version of Kiss.

At times URA-KIA treads familar ground like in the Godsmack-like opening anthem "Sea Of Lies." Ramsey thunderous voice combines with the powerful tandem of Boggs-Westlake to get the cd off to a roaring start with a track that would be right at home on modern rock radio.

"The Last Mile" and the Corrosion of Conformity-like"Wretched and Weary" feature excellent vocal efforts by Ramsey. In fact, modern rock and classic rock fans alike will be impressed by Ramsey.

He gives a stunning vocal delivery on the piano accompanied album closer "Long Time Gone." He gives an earnest raw performance on the southern tinged ballad which Ramsey sounds a little like Zak Wylde has he delivers from the heart. URA-KIA is highly recommended for rock fans of any style.

With veteran musicianship and a fresh voice, URA-KIA forges classic and modern rock while heading off onto paths untraveled. URA-KIA's debut album will jolt rockers out of the tedious rock doldrums that haunt today's rock radio.