Waxwing
One For The Ride
Waxwing features Rocky Votolato (vocals/guitar) and brother Cody Votolato on guitar (Blood Brothers). Waxwing's follow up to their For Madmen Only debut on Second Nature, once again impeccably produced by the renowned Matt Bayles (Botch, The Blood Brothers), One For The Ride is in parts a more stripped down, sparser affair than the layered, lush For Madmen Only. However, because of it sparseness it achieves a sound just as full and textured as their debut, as if each element of Waxwing is given more room to breathe and grow. While more restrained in its full on rock moments than For Madmen Only, but not abandoning them either, One For The Ride once again harnesses Rocky Votolato's smooth, morose, world-weary vocals, coupling them with Waxwing's effortless ability to mine different facets of rock's landscape, usually in a more restrained and introspective manner. This coupling allows the music to be driven but never eclipsed by Votolato's vocal talents, before musically climaxing with a dynamic rock crescendo or falling fleetingly apart, wherever the music takes them. While often brooding and introspective in its nature, Waxwing's rock laments possess an energy and emotion buoyed by their unwavering commitment to atmosphere and moods, as well as always placing the music first. One For The Ride is another excellent organic rock release from Waxwing.