80’s hard rock refuses to go out quietly. It would rather stick around for decades and live through inspired contemporaries. New Jersey hard rock band AUG does their part in evangelizing this sound with their new single “Be Careful What You Wish For…” off of their upcoming album with the same title.
This track is upbeat for hard rock. It’s melodic and not too focused on being “hard” (in spite of the band’s ALL CAPS name). The guitars actually follow a chord progression without relying on recycled Djent tricks. The drums are strategically planned, as I can hear cymbal interplay with the vocals’ cadence. And of course, what’s a hard rock song without a lightning-quick guitar solo that travels through several octaves and hits dozens of notes in a matter of seconds? All of the AUG musicians have a calculated role to fill and they do it well.
My only real complain on this song is in the singer’s style. It’s just a little too obvious that he’s trying to imitate Ozzy Osbourne. I’d like for him to add his own flare to the music and do something that separates him. Also, lyrics like “Be careful what you wish for tonight. It might change your world, but it might change your life” left me scratching my head. These vague statements aren’t really directing any message as they border the cliché. There just doesn’t seem to be a right way to interpret them. This band has got talent, but I think their singer could be more creative both stylistically and lyrically.
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Bio:
AUG is a Hard Rock group with a metal edge; straight forward, hard driving and melodic. AUG is made up of four veterans of the NY/NJ music scene. 20 YEARS IN HELL, AUG’S first release received critical acclaim by such notables as VH1 Classic’s TMS host Eddie Truck. The band performed at the 2011, 2012 and 2013 “THAT METAL SHOW” Christmas PARTY’s at Dingbatz w/ Eddie, Don and Jim. They also moved up the charts on REVERBNATIONS “HOT 500” Rock to the #2 position and consistently held a TOP 20 position in the NY/NJ metro area ROCK charts for over 2 years.
While the first album “20 YEARS IN HELL” was pretty much a “basement project”, the follow up release “BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR…” AUG took it to a new level. All the tracks were recorded at the word famous “HOUSE OF LOUD” in Saddle Brook, NJ. The album was mixed and mastered at CLEARCUT RECORDING a few miles away in Garfield, NJ w/ veteran producer/engineer and “MAD” Max Caselnova. AUG looks forward to a busy 2014 as they tour coast to coast and the UK in support of the new album.
The members of AUG have played with many major acts such as Dokken, Great White, Joe Lynn Turner, White Lion, Blue Oyster Cult, L.A. Guns, Savatage, Kings-X, Trixter, Circus of Power, EZO, MOD and many others.
Websites:
Official Website
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