Sixx A.M. Rises To The Challenge Of Crafting a Venomous Rock Ball Buster

Spring break may be in the books but that doesn't mean the fun has to end. Enter Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx's side project, the aptly titled Sixx A.M. Its newest effort "Rise" sums up what all the fuss is about as it pertains to anthem tinged hard rock. James Michael leads this pack and right up front his vocals mean serious business. He sounds the call to action, hoping and possibly praying his disciples are out there waiting to pick up the slack. Then we spin around to the guitar work at the bridge. It'll take awhile to fully absorb how unapologetic the theatrics are. If you've ever experienced, or for that matter hope to experience being dragged behind runaway water skis, this guitar solo ought to hold your appetite at bay until you can arrange for the real thing. To add to that Sixx A.M. comes before us with some pretty generous all over the map chord progressions. Stasis doesn't serve the purpose for these guys. Go big or go home as it's been said. In order to incite revolution you need to have someone act as a mouthpiece who's convincing in leading the charge. Paul fills that role in spectacular fashion. The message is one we all could stand to gain a reminder of, namely get yourselves together and live your lives. Dustin Steinke drills into the drums as if he had a personal grudge to settle with them. Everybody fully commits to the task at hand and it shows. I'm encouraged to unleash my inner ass kicker strictly based on the fact that Sixx A.M. makes giddy rebellion sound so provocative and worth the civil disobedience charges. In the video you see gruesome images of what could happen to you if you don't stand your ground. Nikki's association with standing up to a devil too big for his horns definitely falls in line with his playbook. If you haven't hit upon your finest hour the next one could be right around the corner. Empowerment seems to be slipping out of the collective cultural grasp lately. Sixx A.M. contributes with a healthy jolt of adrenaline. What impresses me most is how the boys keep the punch going from first note to last. Anyone who remembers Sixx from the "Girls, Girls, Girls" days knows Nikki looks at home on a vehicle that roars like a big, bad Harley Davidson. Leadership's one of those concepts modern America looks hard pressed to serve up. Maybe Nikki should suggest "Rise" be a campaign song. I'm guessing the Republicans won't go for it though. "Rise" comes to us from the upcoming "Prayers For The Damned". "Rise" hits the notes that are potent enough to roust anyone from social somnambulism.