BulletBoys - From Out of the Skies
Frontiers Music
http://www.bulletboysofficial.com/

Rating: B

Marq Torien has been on a mission over the last ten years or so to rebuild the viability of a band called BulletBoys.  Along with relentless touring and festival appearances, the 2015 release of the band's 9th studio album "Elefante" did just that.

"Elefante" is a powerhouse collection of hard-edged melodic rock that re-established BulletBoys as a force for good in the never-ending battle to keep Rock alive. 

When it came time to record a follow-up Marq and his crack team of rockers including Nick Rozz on guitar, drummer Joaquin Revuelta and bassist Chad McDonald, faced a choice of delivering more of the same or stretching out a bit and expanding the formula.

Perhaps the decision was made for them as they decamped to Dave Grohl's 606 Studios and began recording the album through the famous Sound City Neve console, as they decided to do both.

From Out of the Skies comes warping out of space dock with three trademark hard-rocking, melodic BulletBoys specials: "Apocalypto", "D-Evil" and the title track, all worth the price of admission on their own.

The first hint that BulletBoys are looking to expand their musical palette comes with "Hi Fi Drive By" which at first seems like the usual 4th track, mid-tempo rocker, placed there to allow you to catch your breath, but soon you begin to notice some new flourishes, like the lush, R&B inflected backing vocals on the chorus, along with the almost slow jam groove of the guitars.

Closing out side one is the album's first ballad "Losing End" which contains the most personal lyrics Torien has ever attempted. The songs smooth arrangement is driven along by an assortment of latin percussion instruments lending the song a Latin Lounge feel.

"What Cha Don't" feels like your typical BulletBoys rocker to open side 2, but a decidedly more Punk Rock attitude is detected in it's execution. It is when that song crossfades into "P.R.A.B." (if you wanna know what that stands for, buy the CD!) things start to get really weird.

Starting off with an uncharacteristic sequenced keyboard riff, "P.R.A.B." stays with the Punk attitude and introduces elements of Hard Funk ala James Brown via Led Zeppelin's "The Crunge".

Before we even have time to process this welcome development we plunge into the self-reflective rocker "Sucker Punch", a song that rocks, swings and, yes, Raps. "Sucker Punch"segues into the albums final ballad, "Switchbade Butterfly", a rumination on the idea that death is the great equalizer where winners and losers all go to those "Cotton Candy Castles In The Sky" (ulp!).

After a rollercoaster of musical styles and emotions bared, From Out of the Skies closes with the powerful, hopeful and anthemic, "Once Upon A Time". Torien sings the positive lyrics with genuine emotional impact as the music builds; one of the best album closers I've heard in a while. It's a song that points forward to the day that BulletBoys and their loyal fans become true winners.

From Out Of The Skies track listing:
01. Apocalypto
02. D-Evil
03. From Out Of The Skies
04. Hi-Fi Drive By
05. Losing End Again
06. Whatcha Don't
07. P.R.A.B.
08. Sucker Punch
09. Switchblade Butterfly
10. Once Upon A Time

By Eric Sandberg