Rock music is powerful. Wailing guitars, slamming drums and deep basslines give the music a punch that gets the blood pumping and makes you want to move. Even soft rock from acoustic guitars can serve to bring impact to an emotional message. Peter MacDonald’s EP, “Nothing,” shows the listener the power of the robust rock and roll genre.
“Punching Bag” gets things rolling. The guitar wastes no time and starts rockin’ right out of the gate. The alluring riffs are met with a slam of the drums and the explosive vocals of Peter MacDonald. The bass that grooves underneath jams right alongside the snappy guitars and marching drums, making it easy to get lost in it when you notice it effortlessly moving beneath it all. This can be tough, however, since the wailing guitars never stop rockin’, delivering an excellent guitar solo at the back end of the track that’s tough to not replay. With a powerful vocal performance that rises to the occasion,”Punching Bag” makes for a great warm-up and lets the EP hit the ground running.
“Far From Perfect” follows it up. The stringy melody of the guitar grabs your attention while the bass grooves in on a marching percussion. The synths add a retro charm to the track and give power to the low-reaching vocals. The deep bass groove stays grounded as the track goes on while the synths and guitars head to the clouds, giving the track an alluring dynamic as the vocals move between the two to meet the emotion in the lyrics. Lines such as “don’t turn around, I’m no longer with you. I didn’t know what I was feeling then, but one thing was clear… You were far from here” are the perfect example of MacDonald’s dynamic vocals moving up and down with the emotion of the lyrics as the instrumentals reinforce those feelings. Combined with a bass groove that your ears will melt into, “Far From Perfect” is a great track that switches up the hard rockin’ momentum and shows off the range of the vocalist.
“Here I Am” is a stand-out track. The acoustic guitar strums ring with a light warmth. Once the percussion hits, the bass follows up and offers a cradling depth to the track. The guitar and vocals of Peter MacDonald stand front and center with calm strums that flow well alongside the marching drums. During the last leg of the track, the bass comes to life with an addictive groove that’s easy to miss if you aren’t looking for it. The vocal performance is powerful and a stand-out one from the EP. Lines such as “suddenly, there’s something new. Always my fault, that much is true, and I didn’t have the slightest clue. Stuck here, wonderin’ what to do” are delivered with a buttery smoothness which compliments the track perfectly. It makes “Here I Am” a track that you’ll always remember because of its dynamic instrumentals and the stand-out vocals that go with them perfectly.
“Nothing” is a rock EP that feels personal. From the top, Peter MacDonald uses his guitar to sing his feelings to anyone willing to listen. From softer acoustic tracks such as “Here I Am” mix well with harder tracks such as “Punching Bag” or ones with a groove in the case of “I Want To Get Out,” creating a robust musical portrait to display his emotional lyrics. With musical surprises waiting in each track to be found in repeat listens and a powerful voice, anyone looking for some solid rock and roll should check out the “Nothing” EP.
Leave a Reply