One In The Chamber - Blow
In one format or another, I’ve talked about One In The Chamber many times and I fear I may run out of comparisons to get people to dig into their music but, for now, if you’re looking for something that sounds like Stone Temple Pilots, Velvet Revolver and Avenged Sevenfold all got through their coke days together in a music-fueled orgy, look no further than OITC’s latest track. It’ll ‘Blow’ you away!
There is something about the hard-hitting intro of ‘Blow’ that hits the Velvet Revolver, followed by a slow-creeping verse that really gives it the STP vibe. Follow that with the ripping chorus vocals of lead singer Mike Biase and there comes the Avenged Sevenfold touch, not to mention the wonderfully discordant guitar solo by Cecil Eugene that has shades of Synyster Gates.
(left to right) Gerrod Harris, Christian Dotto, Cecil Eugene, Mike Biase
Regardless of who they may sound like, there is something about this band that just shouts big fish in a small pond. I’m sure there are many metalheads out there that don’t like it when anything hits mainstream. There is a reason why people were upset when Metallica came out with The Black Album. They wanted more of the thrash they grew up with from Kill ‘Em All. Hell, many people don’t like Avenged because they’re too popular as a Cali metal band.
So, I’d get it if people got mad when I say that these guys should be hitting the mainstream but, all that being said, One In The Chamber is bigger than their hometown of Toronto, guaranteed. This is a band that has the sound to hit it out of the park and the fan and media relations to make a solid go of things. Of course, that’s only the opinion of a metalhead music journalist who lives up in Northern Ontario in the frosty reaches where bassist Christian Dotto must have spent some time (sorry again for the GoT jokes, Christian, but it’s just irresistible).
Now that I’ve finished gushing over the band and hitting home just how much you all should be paying attention to them, I want to show off their video for their latest single, ‘Blow’. This video made me so happy that there are still guerilla filmmakers out there who really know how to make something look far more high budget than it truly is. First and foremost, I love that every member of the band gets their time to shine. I particularly love the bass run that captures Christian flying on the neck. Cecil gets to flaunt his guitar dancing skills, which are unrivalled these days. And Gerrod Harris, the man behind the beat that hammers us into the track in the first place, gets a number of runs to take it all home.
There is an interesting dynamic in the video with Mike singing through a megaphone…which is where the guerilla filmmaking starts for me. Not only does it convey that this song is meant to be loud, but the end of the megaphone has an OITC logo on it and whether it’s a pendant or just a sticker, it gives a great sense of success and propriety and literally amplifies just how much people should be taking note of One In The Chamber. The neon-looking OITC logo in the background of the video gives the same illusion though I am almost certain that it is comprised of nothing more than LED lighting strips and tape. That being said, the vast majority of people are not going to notice and are simply going to appreciate the awesome production quality that accompanies the music.
I could go on and on but instead, I’ve got something you all can very easily do. Go and listen to One In The Chamber. Check out their other tunes. Keep up to date with their releases. Go to their gigs (when those are allowed to happen again on the other side of this off-brand beer virus). One In The Chamber is a band everyone should have on their playlists, their wall and their musical radar.
