On disc: Mastedon

 
 It's A Jungle Out There
(re-release)
 
- Lars Björn -
 
 


 
 3
 
- Lars Björn -
 
 


 
 3
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 

3

(Frontier Records - 2009)



 
 

 

It is still Dino and John Elefante who writes the music for Mastedon's albums. Still the style is soft pop and rock, but they have changed a bit into a more acapella sing a long musical direction. At least it is positive that they create some material to mark their own character. But with their Christian background they are more interested in praising God than creating songs which have an individual power.

They have a very beautiful and melodic song called Nowhere Without Your Love, and a song called Lying To Cover My Sins which has power and good rock'a'billy quality. The best song of the album is the telling from The Bible of how the Lord changed water into wine. It has wild drums and guitars to rock your ears. The song is called Water Into Wine.

No doubt that Elefante brothers are skilled musicians, but the outcome is too thin to make a real impact.
 
 










Lars Björn


  
up 













3

(Frontier Records - 2009)



 
 

 

John and Dino Elefante are back with Mastedon and their 3rd album - simply called 3. Many will know John Elefante for his work with Kansas, but the Grammy-winning singer and guitarist also did some solo albums and lend his skills to various artists - also as an engineer and producer. After taking a break it was time for him to be back as a musician - and so he and Dino reactivated Mastedon. But he - and his brother - aren't just linked to the Christian rock scene by their band Mastedon. Elefante worked with bands like Petra, Barren Cross and Guardian - among others.

The opener Revolution Of Mind reminds me for a brief moment of Survivor... Musically they are pursueing the same style - AOR. At the moment it seems that many AOR bands give it a try again, at least when it comes to releases in Europe, coz in the US this music never been totally gone. At Slay Your Demons you can hear some Arabic influences. But also songs like Nowhere Without Your Love can enchant you when you are into AOR or Christian rock. The Elefante brothers add different elements and so there is some variety, even if they still doing AOR, but at One Day Down By The Lake (See You Real Soon) you will detect some progressive edge! And I think that Kansas fans will like this one! Not just because Kerry Livgren joined the Elefante brothers! And additionally they 'covered' Dust In The Wind - a perfect closer! At Water Into Wine they add some 70's rock vibe, but it's not a retro rock song! You see, they offer a variety of sounds within the genre and so it's fun to listen to this one! To talk about the technical skills of Mastedon would be like carrying coals to Newcastle!

Many AOR fans have the early Mastedon albums in their collection and think of them as essential pieces of their collection. The album shows that Mastedon still know how to do good AOR and the progressive elements are just one flavor in their AOR sound. Well done!
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
up 













It's A Jungle Out There (re-release)

(Frontier Records - 2009)



 
 

 

Brothers Dino and John Elefante released this very album already in 1989. In fact the album sums up the two previous albums Wasn't It Love and Get Up. Now they have made a record deal with Italian label Frontier Records, and in the same move as they come with a new produced album we get this re-release of their earlier work. They work together with Stef Burns (ex-Y&T), and Dave Amato (Ted Nugent, REO Speedwagon).

Their musical style is a widespread mix of soft pop and rock, elements of heavy metal, hard rhythm guitar, glam rock a la Mötley Crüe. Interesting sound but unfortunately they don't have so many ideas which could make the songs a hit. If they were to play at a pub or very small concert venue, that would probably suit them best, they could be able to reach out to the audience, but in larger concert halls Mastedon would fall through. People would start to get bored, at least in my opinion.

There are three songs, It's A Jungle Out There, Glory Bound and Love Inhalation which has a good quality, the rest of the album can not rise above the ordinary. The album includes two songs performed live at Cornerstone in 1991, Islands In The Sky and Right Hand. This is a little boring, and the mistake is to choose two of the weakest songs as extra live songs to end the album.
 
 










Lars Björn


  
up 





 
           ©2008-2010 by Claudia Ehrhardt • E-Mail: contact@ice-vajal.com