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LOVE * DRUGS * REBELLION - CD REVIEWS
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Dirty Rock by Jonni Starr |
From Southeastern USA,
Rockets To Ruin are well on the way to making a name for themselves
having performed with a host of famous names (Paul Stanley, Nashville
Pussy, Josh Todd of Buckcherry and Skid Row to name a few) and having
tracks featured across multiple media platforms including ESPN. |
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All Access Magazine |
Right off the bat I dig this. Love the name, love the CD title, and totally diggin' on the jacket pix. This takes me back to Motley Crue and Hanoi Rocks in their days of tattoos and whiskey, debauchery and decadence. And isn't that what real rock & roll is all about. The sound of Rockets to Ruin reminds me of Wrathchild UK with more meat on the plate. A sound that freakin' grabs you, catapults into a rock and roll club, sticks all the sights and sounds right in your face and ears, and brings back those lovely memories of a hot chick on her knees in a bathroom stall. Listening to the CD I can image the live show is awesome. Not to mention any rock back playing Gibsons just sounds that much better. Rating 4 |
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Classic Rock Magazine
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Snarling, punky sleaze beasts out of Atlanta belch up this wallop of decadent, industrial-strength, Crue-cified flash metal. Produced by Skid Row's Rachel Bolan, and brother it sounds like it. You'll need your nose chain and fingerless gloves to ride this rocket. |
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Ballbuster by Paul Autry
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Rock 'n' roll is supposed to be dirty, filthy, sloppy, sleazy, dangerous, offensive and fun. For the most part, that attitude has been lost over the years. Too many people are playin' it safe these days. Where's the fun in that? I think Rockets To Ruin has been asking that very same question because this album, while having a modern sound, takes you back to a time when rock 'n' roll actually meant something. I find it kind of funny though...and I'm probably the only person to hear this...but...at times, this record reminds me of Prunella Scales, which featured Skid Row's Rachel Bolan, who just so happened to produce this release...and I'm sure that had something to do with the whole vibe of "Love * Drugs * Rebellion." The end of the year is almost upon us and a lot of people usually throw a top ten list together, myself included. While I haven't even though about who I'd include on my list yet, I can tell you right now that Rockets To Ruin will be in the top five because this is, without a doubt, one of the best albums that I've heard all year. This is the kind of music that I live for and it's the reason why I continue to do what I do. It's a worthy addition to any rock 'n' roll collection. So, be sure to check this one out...you'll be glad you did. |
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Garage Radio by John Foxworthy
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If ever there were times I loved listening to music for a living, this would be one of them for sure. Atlanta's Rockets To Ruin recently sent me their debut album, Live*Drugs*Rebellion. After a few spins I've gotta say they're off to a damn good start. R2R's style stems from the heyday of hard rock with deep inspiration from bands like Motley Crue, Kiss and The Ramones. But, don't let their influences fool you. While this record is a tribute to everything good to ever spout out of an amplifier, these guys do it their way ... with all the style and attitude that fans of the genre demand. If you're looking for something you've never heard before you won't find it here. I expect R2R aren't trying to reinvent the wheel, but they certainly give it a new spin with this sleazy romp through the streets of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll. The whole album is loaded with straight up, hard rock backbeats and simple yet powerful guitar riffs ... topped off with a healthy helping of smokin' guitar solos. Even the vocals demonstrate an unrefined, raunchy edge, rounding out that raw, rough 'n' ready image most rock bands only dream of achieving. If I had to criticize anything I heard on this album, it'd have to be that a few of the songs are too interchangeable, like "We Are The Drugs" and "Take A Ride With Me." While they're both great tunes, I had a hard time distinguishing one from the other, in that they both seem to be driven by the same progression. They also play back-to-back and without the space between tracks, one might think they were the same song. That aside, R2R have pooled their influences and released a fun, energetic mix of rock and punk ... with just a smidge of early '80s glam thrown in for sex appeal. They represent the old school without posing or cloning and I think Live*Drugs*Rebellion will be to Rockets what Too Fast For Love was to Crue. With that in mind, I can't wait to see what a couple more years in the trenches will produce for these guys. Long story short; Live*Drugs*Rebellion is a very solid chunk of rock 'n' roll. No fancy gimmicks, no girly "butt tunes" and no respect for conformity help Rockets To Ruin breathe new life into an old genre. I think I'll keep this one in the deck a while longer! |
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Revelationz by Michael |
“Love * Drugs * Rebellion” is the debut disc from Rockets To Ruin. The CD is produced by Skid Row’s Rachel Bolan, which helped to draw my attention. However, after a couple of listens I didn’t care about Mr. Bolan because these guys’ music speaks for itself. Rocket’s to Ruins music is raw energetic Hard Rock with a modern touch and punk influences. The press package actually says what I have been longing to hear from a Rock band since the mid-nineties. I proudly quote “They don't believe their lives are bad or that life is unfair. Instead, they believe in Kiss, Guns N’ Roses, Motley Crue, The Ramones, The Cult, and the power of rock n’ roll… and it shows!” HELL YEAH!! These guys have one foot planted in the 80’s Hard Rock scene where fun and good times were keywords. The other foot is placed in the now. Rockets to Ruin has managed to unite the 80’s and now – the outcome is sweaty Rock with a bit of sleaze, but with a raw and fresh touch to it. The basic means guitar, bass and drums never goes out of style. Worth noticing is the guitar solos, which only is backed by bass and drums. This just makes it raw and honest. Cleveland Willis vocals are in your face throughout the whole record. The same goes for the drum sound, which cuts like a knife through butter. Several highlights are found on the record. The riff driven Screaming at me sees Cleveland Willis doing an A+ performance. Sometimes he doubles his vocals only to give it more power. The intro to 1 more fix sounds like Metallica’s Enter Sandmen – however, this guitar riff is even better. 1 More Fix has become the best song on the album. The chorus for Helpless and Gotta Go, Gotta Roll are the best choruses on the record and both songs are spiced with great lead guitar. The future is looking bright for Rockets to Ruin since they have all the ammunition to make it. “Love*Drugs*Rebellion” grows on you. The production is a bit treble, so to explore this album best possible it actually sounds best when played loud. Rating: 7/10 |
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Sleazeroxx
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Finally! Here's a review where I have something negative to say! However, it's not about the music so I guess that kind of blows that theory out of the water. Really, I'm not that easy all the time, I've just been lucky to come across some good stuff! First the negatives, what there are of them. I wish this CD would have been longer, it clocked in a just over 35 minutes. There's no wasted time or any filler, so at least it's a solid 35 minutes, but still, after a couple of listens that's not enough. Secondly, this is a four-piece band with only one guitar. As good as they sound I drool while imagining how much fuller and richer this would sound with more strings, but that's just a personal preference. Lastly, why can't lightning be captured in a bottle? I saw Rockets To Ruin open for Paul Stanley and on stage they were incredible, the songs they covered on this CD just screamed and begged to be purchased after the show. I gave in and am glad I did, but this CD pales in comparison to their live show. That out of the way, here come the goods. This four piece band hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, should serve notice that you don't have to come from LA or NY to have great sound or that a band from the deep south will have dark southern roots showing in their platinum blonde rock. This band oozes 80s sleaze from the strip with early sounds of Faster Pussycat and L.A. Guns accompanying the poise and attitude from Zodiac Mindwarp's portfolio. And the whole time I'm watching them command the stage and listening to solid riffs and relentless drumming I keep hearing a sound that sticks out in my mind. What band is it? Who does this sound like? What sound keeps running through my head? Finally it comes to me - originality. For as much as you can make a comparison to another group that has come before them you can feel the huge breath of fresh air pounding out of their amps. There may be the beat of a drummer at their parade, but these guys aren't marching to it - they're running! The only concern I have with Rockets To Ruin is longevity. Skid Row's very own Rachel Bolan produced this disc and I can only hope he has the band's best interest at heart and will help them along instead of pulling a Dana Strum. I've had this CD playing all day long today and can only sum it by saying, "Hell Yeah! I want more!" |
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Sugarbuzz by Lynda
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It was that time of year again: the Atlantis Music Conference (atlantismusic.com). Long description made short: lots of bands and solo artists, lots of different genres, lots of venues, lots of parties, and lots of industry panels over the course of a long weekend here in Atlanta, GA. I went to one show and one show only this year: 7 Oct. 2006: Rockets to Ruin. Ok, so the sure-fire parking and the guest list spot were the clinchers to pulling me out of the house. However, once I had settled into the dark and humid cavern-esque air of the 10 High, Rockets to Ruin's electrifying presence obliterated my blahs and awoke the snarling rock & roll demon from within. We got there whilst the band was in their first or second song but it was enough to 1) rock my boxx 2) make me proud to see these cats getting the attention they deserve and 3) ALMOST make me regret not having put on make-up that night. I've reviewed Rockets to Ruin at the Shug before. After rereading what I wrote, I'm ashamed that I can't come up with anything better...or different. Sometimes, tho, some things don't need to be tampered with-and I'm referring to the band, not my review. Back to the show- there was equal crowd consumption by the new songs as there was from the old school favourites. Between Cleve's hot half naked body…I mean sensual front man charisma and sexy vocals, Mike's spine-tingling guitar solos, Chris' larger than life bass-monster magnetism, and Rob's always present drum king ingenuity ("god" is reserved for the Buddy Rich/Gene Krupas), a Rockets to Ruin gig is a guaranteed talent-filled performance. You won't find choreographed moves, crazy stage props, eccentric outfits, and so on. A Rockets to Ruin show is simply rock & roll through and through. And the concert goers, made up of loyal fans/friends of the band as well as people who had never even heard them before, not only recognized this quality, but responded to it as if they had been treated to something spectacular, that was for Rockets to Ruin merely natural. Also spotted in the crowd, for brotherly support and to watch his newest project in action, was Skid Row's Rachel Bolan. Bolan is the band's manager, and also produced their recent release "Love*Drugs*Rebellion". If I could give "Love*Drugs*Rebellion" human characteristics, I would envision it as standing there with one hand raised in the air giving devil horns around a bottle of beer- no Jack-while wearing sunglasses, dangling a smoke from its lips, and using the other hand to grab its crotch (nuts or cooter-depending). Chocked full of sinister bass licks, face kicking choruses, cliché lyrics, dirty guitar chords, killer solos, pounding drum resonance, driving atmosphere, and salacious vocals, this sophomore release is 20 songs of debauchery, and there are no regrets. I assert that there are more anthematic songs- you know, the ones you bang your head to and sing along with, than not. Take the kick off to the album "We Are The Drugs" which unabashedly admits that Rockets to Ruin is your new r'n'r fix. "Take A Ride With Me" hides the sad loss of a friend behind angry guitars and wall-punching mood. "Devil Girl" is about, well, guess… My highlights for "Screamin' At Me" are the boys night out-like chorus and reaming guitar solo. "Burnin'" is an older song revived for the new chapter of Rockets to Ruin's reign, and it's one of my favourites cos it just pulls you into an internal mosh pit of sorts and I can't help but say, yet again, how great of a guitarist Mike Grimmet is- a diamond in the rough here in the Atl scene. "1 More Fix" is a roller coaster of brooding mood that climaxes into rock vocal showmanship. "Helpless" is another old school tune that I love cos of the break out chorus, ear splitting solos, and lyrical meaning-it's another song of a loved one lost (Hey, Rick- "thanks for coming"). "Gotta Go, Gotta Roll" is another rebel yell of self-crowning rock & rule attitude- note: it ISN'T egotistical when it's true. "Revolution" is another oldie that is just one of those songs that sticks with you- after all, it was the first song I "remembered" from show to show before I ever got one of their CDs. "Nowhere to Go (No Time to Care)" is the final installment of the Rockets to Ruin free spirited mind-set, which can also be referred to as "my way or fuck it". Wait. That's only 10 songs. It's 20 when I listen to it… on repeat. |
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Sleazegrinder
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Supercharged dose of gleefully unapologetic flash-trash from Atlanta-based party-starters Rockets to Ruin. Says here "Love Drugs Rebellion" was produced by Rachel Bolan, Skid Row's resident nose-chain champ, and while such a claim doesn't carry nearly as much weight now as it would say, 15 years ago, Mr. Bolan does a bang up job of turning RTR's jumpy glampunk into a snarly, slobbering sleazebeast. Think mid-period Crue mixed with the headbanging Southern raunch-metal of Dangerous Toys, and you're on your very own rocket to ruination. The lyrics are purposely dumbed-down odes to Saturday night, obnoxious teenage gibberish that serves mostly to kill time before the fist pumping, rabble-rousing choruses. The guitars slither between Johnny Thunders and LA Guns, the vox have a powerful glamdustrial edge, and they don't puss out with any bullshit ballads. I'm not saying that they're Buckcherry or nothin', but based on power-hungry, crotch-grabbing bruisers like "Take a Ride with Me Straight to Hell" and "Gotta Go, Gotta Roll", I'd say they are definitely in the same arena. By the way, for the exactly two people that get the reference, this album sounds almost exactly like long-gone Fla. sleazebags The Kill. And those guys were bad ass. |
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ROCKETS TO RUIN - EP REVIEWS
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Sleazegrinder |
R2R are a buncha seasoned true-believers from Atlanta who play chugging,
anthemic hard rawk, influenced and inspired by the Backyard Babies, the
Cult, Warrior Soul and probably a little peaceflower grunge here n'
there, as well. Certainly, the ropy riffs and stadium-sized production
brings to mind Soundgarden, early STP, and Grunt Truck, but they've also
got the hustle and flash of the cocaine-boogie on 'em, and even tho it's
kinda hard to tell with only two tracks, it looks like these ROCKETS are
gonna be monsters, man. |
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Prick Magazine by Chuck B. |
Rockets to Ruin lead singer Cleveland Willis is an old friend of PRICK. From working the door at the old 9 Lives Saloon in Atlanta to performing with a multitude of bands, we have seen Cleve come into his own. His latest band is proof of that. A singer is nothing without a great band and these guys rock. Straight up rock -- no DJs, no hip-hop, no emo, just rock. Take the sex god attitude, looks and presence of Motley Crue back in the day, but replace the '80s glam wardrobe with Motorhead's gritty rock attire and you've got a great, goodtime rock 'n' roll band (without the ugly mole) that really delivers. Check them out live or check out the website for their self-titled six song early release CD that is just long enough for the ride home from the bar or work. |
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WRFR-FM (Rockland, ME) by DJ Will Matson |
If you want to give your listeners corporate rock, give them another band, if you are looking for something that is fresh, let them hear ROCKETS TO RUIN. Considering ROCKETS TO RUIN formed under two years ago, the band is a tight and accomplished unit. 'Waitin' For You' will stick in your head weeks after hearing it for the first time. |
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WKLS-FM (Atlanta, GA) by DJ English Nick |
ROCKETS TO RUIN are bringing the Rock back for 2004. |
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WLVR-FM (Bethlehem, PA) by Asst. Music Director - Sheck |
ROCKETS TO RUIN is what the music scene needs right now.....a good hard driving band with tunes that get the fists pumping......just like great hard rock is supposed to do!!! I honestly can't wait to hear more from you guys!! |
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Antidote Records by Sin |
Some pretty cool stuff recalling the old days when Rock was "dangerous" again ... early Crue, Faster Pussycat, maybe some Kiss thrown in for good measure. Give 'em a listen and see what you think. They have 2 songs available for download and my fave of the two is "Shadow." |
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Hardrockinfo |
ROCKETS TO RUIN: s/t - Demo CD |
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Creative Loafing by Gregory Nicoll |
Lifting its name from the Ramones and its attitude from KISS and the Crue, ROCKETS TO RUIN specializes in raging metallic rock. The combo's current lineup includes the singer from Takoda, a guitarist from the Piece Dogs and the bassist from Supermatic. |
