3 - Wake Pig

Year of Release: 2005
Label: Metal Blade
Catalog Number: 3984-14555-2
Format: CD
Total Time: 57:31:00

Don't be fooled by the name here as this band has nothing to do with the similar named outfit which includes Robert Berry, Keith Emerson and Carl Palmer. Instead you are witnessing the birth of one hell of a band. The NY-based fivepiece got together in the mid- '90s, although it took them until 2000 before Planet Noise Records released their debut CD, the 14-track sporting Paint By Number. Three years later Summer Camp Nightmare was released resulting in a joint tour with fellow NY based rockers Coheed and Cambria. In 2004 the album Wake Pig was issued once again by Planet Noise Records raising the interest of Metal Blade Records who signed the band in 2005. The first release for their new label is this version of Wake Pig which has made it to "album of the week" on On The Rocks [Bobo's radio show - ed.]. The new release sports new artwork, new lyrics, two new songs, a couple of remixes and Max's vocals added to the song "Where's Max?"

3 is one of the upcoming new bands that combine all kinds of authentic rock, prog and highly technical approaches, which they make available through an underground network resulting in over 121,000 downloads at purevolume.com and over 27,000 plays at myspace.com. Every single composition on this disc is a real treat, whether it's the singing, the interplay, the high level of production or the final result. I have listened to this album at least ten times over and instead of just picking one or two songs out, I have to listen to the entire album from beginning to end time and time again. There's this kind of commercial quality in the voice of Joey Eppard which combined with the superb backing by the other four musicians might well land this band major success in years to come. I'm convinced they are as catchy as Green Day, Good Charlotte and Alien Ant Farm all put together mixed with the technical quality of Liquid Tension Experiment, OSI and Dream Theater. Just take one slice of the 3 cake such as "Bramfatura" which contains plenty of energy before a Spanish acoustic guitar solo concludes it all. It's daring yet refreshing but above all absolute top quality.

I hear snippets of Spock's Beard flirting with King's X, I hear refreshing vocals reminiscent of Rembrandts or Dylans, I hear stunning compositions which stand shoulder to shoulder with the best Dream Theater recordings, I hear quality musicianship which could rival jambands such as Phish or Umphrey's McGee, I hear commercial twists that were once the trademark of bands like Styx and Kansas. 3 is a bunch of young guys who can enter the world of the younger music lover who detests having to listen to the "old farts" that have been crowding the music industry too long, regardless of their rock 'n' roll merits. Not afraid to also emphasize the acoustic nature of music, with Wake Pig this band has delivered one of the best albums of the year. There is not one track on this album I don't like, which is something that doesn't happen frequently. Wake Pig contains thirteen songs I love and that could feature on any radio station wherever in the world at whatever time. I'm already counting the days to see the band perform live. For those of you who still need a Christmas present, go out and buy two copies: one to giftwrap and one for yourself, because no other gift will give you the satisfaction this album does. Fan-tas-tic!!!

Tracklisting:
Alien Angel / Monster / Dregs / Wake Pig / Bramfatura / Trust / Dogs Of War / Soul To Sell / One Way Town / Queen / Circus Without Clowns / Where's Max / Amaze Disgrace

Musicians:
Joey Eppard?- vocals, acoustic and electric guitars
Chris Gartmann - drums, backing vocals
Billy Riker - guitars, strange effects
Joe Stote - percussion, keyboards
Daniel Grimsland - bass

Discography:
Paint By Numbers (2000)
Summer Camp Nightmare (2003)
Wake Pig (2004/2005)

Genre: Progressive-Power Metal

Origin US

Added: December 11th 2005
Reviewer: John "Bobo" Bollenberg

Artist website: www.theband3.com
Hits: 4074
Language: english