Reviewed by Kit Burns
Aces High/Aces High
Just like Silverchair in the mid-’90s, Aces High are a group of kids playing rock music that was banging heads globally years before they born. While there is no shortage of youths cranking the amps, those doing so with the cockiness and old-school dynamics of Led Zeppelin and vintage Aerosmith is a rare deal. Aces High is all about the Riff. Whether it’s the red-hot soloing in “Betrayal” or the pavement-crashing blasts of rocket fuel on “Breaking Rose,” these boys have passed the School of Rock with straight As.
Thankfully, Aces High aren’t just about the chops. Instead of continuously showing off their technical skills, Aces High have delivered a body of tunes that blend adrenaline with tough, memorable songwriting. “On Thin Ice” is prime teen angst, probably the best cut here. “In Your Eyes” and “Breaking Rose” echo both sides of Metallica – the ominous yet mellow build-up and the protect-your-ears sonic assault. As far as recent hard-rock CDs go, this is among the finest out there.
