Even before being signed by Audio Adrenaline's new record label, Flicker Records, this edgy rock/rap/funk group from Hays, Kansas was hooking fans and sparking the notice of the music industry.
And for good reason. Since the release of their first indie album, Metamorphosis in June of last year, and the subsequent release of their sophomore indie album, Original Superman, Pillar has been getting the radio air time that most bands only dream of. Featured in the July/August issue of 7ball Magazine, as one of their top 25 unsigned bands, the band got additional exposure being included in the magazine CD sampler. The label debut, Above, packs a punch that is sure to get the notice of those they haven't reached with the indie releases.
Above is due out September 26. Musically citing influences such as P.O.D., Pax217, Limp Bizkit, 311, and Rage Against the Machine, the four member Pillar has managed to produce an album with a sound all its own.
The opening track, "Live For Him" starts off heavy, somewhat reminiscent of P.O.D. Energetic, heart pounding guitar and percussion combinations; serious, thought provoking lyrics; breaking into melodic interludes for the song chorus. The song speaks to Christians and non-Christians alike, urging believers to
live what they know to be true and introducing unbelievers to the Truth that they as a band have found.
Title track, "Above" features catchy guitar riffs, sections of high voltage musical energy, interspersed with heavy hitting lyrical passion. "Everything to my God above/He's my one and only true love."
"Original Superman," title track to the sophomore indie release, has an almost reggae/funk feel to it. Using imagery from the popular Superman comic, the song compares the comic book hero to Christ with a major distinction: "Kryptonite can't slow Him down/Nothing can at all/He's always there for you/He'll pick you up if you should fall."
Gotee recording artist Knowdaverbs makes a guest appearance in "Galactic Groove." This is a fun, hip-hop driven song, with a little mixing thrown in.
Overall, this is a strong album both musically and lyrically. Thought provoking lyrics, strong vocals, catchy rhythms and attention grabbing musical interludes make this a seriously competitive debut. The musical maturity displayed in the album, as well as the lyrical insight combine for a truly enjoyable listening experience.
5 tocks
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #87Reviewed by Jason DoddSound on lease from 311, sterilized, safe-street-vernacular-injected -- Pillar come stamped, signed, sealed, and ordained as youth-group-ready. "Original Superman" is perhaps the best 'sum-up' example of the vibe running through Above, displaying all of their strengths and weaknesses in one song. Strengths: the wonderful character DJ Double K adds to generic intro-riffing, and the band's…ReAL Magazine 2000Reviewed by Shawna T.One of the most energetic concerts I went to this year was Pillar playing at a local club. I met their lead singer, Rob Beckley, before the show, and found him to be a quiet and reserved individual. Of course I was astonished when their set started and Beckley was jumping around all over the stage. This was before they released Above, and naturally I became curious to hear how they would sound on…The Phantom Tollbooth 2000Reviewed by Matthew RiddleEach time a style of music gains popularity on the backs of its forefathers, a plethora of similar bands flood the market. Trendsetters like Rage Against the Machine, 311, Korn, and EDL (on a smaller scale) paved the way for hugely successful artists like Kid Rock, Limp Bizkit, Papa Roach, and P.O.D. Of course, they also paved the way for the wave of wannabes that invariably follows. Does Pillar,…Dead Zine 2000Reviewed by the ProjectThis is a cool and well developed disk by Pillar. It is a really different kind of rap-core that sounds like Pax 217 only harder like 311 (recent). The raps are very clever but kinda repetitive. I am into this pretty much because of the DJ's scratching style. The singer also sounds a bit like Fred Durst from Limp Bizkit in a few songs but other than that it's 311 from there. I didn't really know…Similar sounding releases
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