Curtis Dove Returns With A Massive Album
Curtis Dove returns with a new album that feels like it really represents a big part of his life and his personality as the songs come through with these stories that feel like they all come from inner struggle and a lot of times ways to try them through that and throughout the albums unfolding you get a great grasp of that character and personality that is delivered heavy-handedly which all makes the songs feel like they came from someplace very real.
The Rise From the Ashes album feels like it's about exactly that. Rising from the ashes in a sense. A lot of these songs again, are inner and personal battles in a way, and in the end, it's about his fighting through those to stand tall.
I definitely feel like there's a lot of relatability throughout this record and some of the songs feel so personal and so relatable that you feel like they could have been written just for you even though you know they weren't.
This was a powerful record from beginning to end and it is one of those albums that you should be listening to in full because each of the songs do tell a story and as a full record, you were able to get that full story.
Think of it like chapters of a book. This album spans 19 that obviously meant a lot to Curtis and if you listen to it in full, it's the same as reading the entire book. All the chapters.
The entire album spans just over an hour and not a single track should be missed if you ask me, and this is because the songs are also built and put together with such precision but also such heart that the combination of those two things has a heavy impact.
This is a heavy record. It's heavy rock, metal, a little bit of grunge, there's some electronic rock in there, and a lot of these songs come through with closed-fisted anthemic tonalities that leave a mark.
This is a very orchestrated record. It feels big, full-bodied, lush, robust, and intense a lot of the time but those intensities come in waves.
Part of the impact of this record also comes in the arrangements, compositions, and actual performances.
The riffs and guitar work are absolutely killer and are performed with this sonic drive that gives the record a forward-moving punch and edginess.
This is a big record but there are so many hooks, riffs, and choruses that can make you really feel something that it's completely worth it to listen through.
There is an amazing sort of polish to the production of the record and you can tell that there was a ton of attention paid to the detail of its creation while it was being created. Even though that may be so, it never loses the heart or that personality that it starts off with so you're able to actually take this full very personal journey along with Curtis the entire time.
Some of these songs are absolutely massive, cinematic, theatrical, and have amazing builds.
I feel like Curtis has a particular way of writing a song so that they have many memorable sections to them whether that be a guitar riff, hook, chorus, or just a catchy overall approach. But they're all genuine and come from an authentic place that has a bit of an emotional backbone so you know it has depth and layers.
I love an album with layers the way this one does and they are pulled off with such an attention to rhythm and groove some of the time.
You can jump up and down, head bang, or sing alongside these tracks with your fists in the air. I think that's an awesome combination of attributes for a heavy rock record like this one.
Now, as I mentioned earlier, there are electronic elements like synths and keys that come through. These also add another texture and atmosphere to some of the tracks which I absolutely love.
Sometimes those keys and synths are used more like string sections in a way, and this is kind of where the orchestrated feel starts coming in.
This is also how the theatrical undertone hits as well.
Again, this is just gigantic and a lot to soak in but it's super worth it.
I know that we live in a single-based society but when I grew up, we listened to a song on the radio, went to the store and bought the album, and went home and listened to it, it was an experience.
This record brings me back to that. The experience of an intense, in-depth, layered album with musical aspects that get you hooked and all the emotional underbelly that lets you get attached.
Curtis has absolutely outdone himself with this one.
Don't just take my word for it though. Listen to this record and see what it does for you.
