GoRampage

GoRampage – Frankfurt, Germany.

Something a bit different from my usual MF material but in all honesty, this band you need to hear.

A few years ago, I met a fellow by the name of Felix Steiner, from the now defunct Canadian Melodic-Hardcore band, This Is A Stand Off”s Facebook page. I can’t really remember how we got talking, but we soon found out we had a lot in common in regard to what we were destroying our hearing with and damaging our neck muscles to.

Anyway, since then we have been in regular contact. Felix himself plays bass and is in two bands based in Frankfurt, the melodic Punk/Pop Punk band, Profile Me, and of course the band, and very reason for this article, GoRampage. MF is hoping to do some words on Profile Me at a later date, so keep your eyes on us! If you can’t wait, here’s a link to their Facebook page.

Right, time to GoRampage on about some words. Its funny, because it isn’t.

Face The Facts – 2005: GoRampages’s first release. A fast, punchy, 9 track blast of technical Punk Rock, slightly singed with a Metallic post-Hardcore flame. If you like Punk with a difference its a good album for you. Upbeat tracks and harder edged angst, it has something for everyone. The bands guitar work even this early on (I actually listened to the third album first) is precise, entertaining and skillfull. A sign of things to come it seems.

Punk can be a bit repetitive and the better bands add their own signature. GR’s solos and guitar work do this well. ‘Five Minutes Left’, for example, shows the results are essentially guitar porn. *Disclaimer* No strings were harmed during the making of this riff.

From The Inside Out – 2009: The second effort then. Vocally, it improves on its predecessor, which seems to be a trend with this band. Not a negative thing. The post-Hardcore side of the band is still well melded in with the fast Punk, but seems tighter overall with the precise guitar work still prominent. Slightly more melodic in places, you get a real Hot Water Music feel from the album.

Speaking of influences, the band cite Propaghandi as a prominent influence on their work,  especially on this album; and you can’t deny it. The bands talent for a slower, more easy vocal-led song is shown well on this second realise. The songs, notably, are also much longer than on the previous album, and the album also includes a couple of ever-so-slightly ‘Pop-ier’ tracks, which complement the heavier side of things.

These earlier realises are available FREE from the bands Bandcamp profile, a direct link can found here.

Perspective Lights – 2014:  Having recently released a third, full length EP, GoRampage have gone in a more Prog-like direction, which is no surprise when the bands influences for this album cite greats such as Muse, The Mars Volta and Oceansize . On their Facebook page they list themselves as ‘post-Prog/Progressive Alternative’. Now, that is probably jargon to a lot of people,  but it will make sense to many. The latest release, ‘Perspective Lights’, sums up this description perfectly as the ‘Proggy’ side is nailed throughout, and the ‘Alternative’ aspects combine Alternative Rock, Metal and Punk into a punchy Post-Hardcore element that helps to give this band a unique and versatile sound.

Sometime before this article, along with a friend of mine, we described GoRampage as concocting a mix of the aforementioned Prog, along with aspects of Punk, Metal and Alternative Rock. After many further listens, as well as conversations with the band, we think this is both pretty bang on, and, of course, Fresh  The band aimlessly goes between driving Punk or Metal like rhythms and crunching riffs on a Prog like structure, and onward to the softer side of the genre.

Vocals. Whatever the music changes to, the vocals adapt. As do the harmonies between lead and backing. In some cases, the music will take point, and the vocals will be a faded shout or scream, in the background but still well heard; as – in many cases you are going to want to hear the riffs or the some of the more atmospheric notes . Vocally, the band haven’t changed much since their more post-Hardcore-esque Punk of their other releases, but at the same time feel stronger and have definitely improved… tenfold infact. In regard to the ‘Punk’ streak of the band, it has not been lost in the transition to the new sound. The outspoken and honest lyrics, both emotionally and politically, are maintained well to show their integrity as well as the bands’ Left-Wing ethos. Not – I’d like to point out – in a preachy boring way either, which is good… trust me. ‘Perspective lights’ is a great example of a band finding its footing, excelling and moving forward. Fresh.

GoRampage then. A hard working and versatile band. If they’re ever in the UK (inside info says they are hoping to be) or you are at a European festival or gig somewhere on the continent, give them a go. If you are interested obtaining the ‘Perspective Lights’ album, it is available to stream on Spotify and for purchase directly from the band in a hard copy CD. You can just send them a message on Facebook and they will sort the rest. The album is also available on their bandcamp for download if you prefer. As mentioned above, don’t forget their previous records as they are up for free, just follow the links above.

#StayFresh and GoRampage.

Oh, and here’s the bands self-produced DIY video for Red Suns released earlier this year, enjoy.