Kari Williams posted on June 18, 2012 11:51
St. Louis’s own Greek Fire brings intensity, passion and pure awesomeness to every song on their latest album, “Deus Ex Machina.”
From the album’s first single, “Doesn’t Matter Anyway” to the inspiring “Just the Beginning,” a message of hope and determination springs to life, but that message is most present in “Just the Beginning.” As soon as the nearly six-minute song begins, upbeat rhythms echo around you. The music and lyrics meld together in perfect fashion and has the power to bring calm to any situation, regardless of the circumstances.
It gives the impression that even though the world is rushing by at lightning-speed that there is still time to do things for yourself and to enjoy life, as proven by the following lyrics: “Don’t cry because there’s still time. Don’t you know this is just the beginning? Don’t cry ’cause there’s still more time.”
As the last track, it ends your listening experience on a positive note, that brings the album full circle. It seems that so many albums just throw songs together without any thought for the flow of the album as a whole. But it’s apparent that Greek Fire is not part of that group. From one song to the next, there’s a smooth transition that makes the eight-track album consistent and easy to listen to. It’s not just a cluster of songs — It’s a story.
"Make Me Believe" and "Dreaming in Deja Vu," the third and fourth tracks, are great transition tracks between the more energetic "Break Me Down" and "Put Your Hands on Me." They have a serene and calming feel compared to the envigorated reaction "Break Me Down" and "Put Your Hands on Me" have the ability to conjure up.
Some songs are more energetic. Others have a slow, calming, melodic feel. But they all have the same central theme — trying to deal with the frustrations of life without going completely insane.
Plus, there’s just something captivating about frontman Moon’s voice that I can’t seem to put a label on. It’s catchy, but not in an annoying pop-rock way. It’s heartfelt, but not in an overly sappy way. It’s just... natural.
And that natural, insanely enthralling voice meshes perfectly with the musical mastery of Ryan Phillips (guitar), Mark Joseph Roth (bass) and Johnny Venus (drums). So many bands can get lost in the shuffle because they sound so similar, but Greek Fire is not one of those bands. They are immediately identifiable, which makes them even more memorable.
“Deus Ex Machina” is currently (in my completely biased opinion) one of the best CDs to come out of the St. Louis area.
And, on a little bit of a side note, Greek Fire also recently released the single, “If This is the End,” to benefit Venus, who was recently diagnosed with Leukemia. That song continues Greek Fire’s trend of writing inspiring music, and the video that goes along with it will, without a doubt, give you chills. Plus, the proceeds from purchasing the song go toward Venus’ medical bills.
Deus Ex Machina track listing:
- Doesn't Matter Anyway, 4:03
- Break Me Down, 3:42
- Make Me Believe, 3:45
- Put Your Hands on Me, 4:14
- Dreaming in Deja Vu, 5:24
- Under the Stars, 6:53
- Down in Mexico, 4:04
- Just the Beginning, 5:56