Music: Detour
Our Take
Detour is a hard rock band out of Chicago that has been around for a few years now, but up to this point has been more regionally oriented. Because of this, readers not from their area may not have an immediate point of reference on the group and their music. Currently the group has one full length available that can be purchased online through sites such as CDBaby. After watching them at the 2006 Region Rumble in Merrillville, Indiana, it was clear that the group had talent. At that particular event the group was selling limited samplers of tracks off of their upcoming album, which is what the opinions in this review are based off of.
The term hard rock is being misused these days. Typically the words "hard rock" are thrown around with any band that has chugging guitars of some type, and the distinctive sound of this genre from the mid and late 90's are beginning to fade into the distance. But Detour will bring the traditional feel of this type of music back into the listeners' minds. All of the singing is excellently done, as lead vocalist Rich has a superb voice that perfectly fits the music. On occasion guitarist Jon will provide some backing vocals on choruses, and this adds an extra layer of melody to some tracks. However, these backing vocals are not overused to the point where they exhaust the listener (which tends to be an issue with many rock bands these days).Another element that certainly helps the band is how they handle each one of their songs. Of the four tracks on the sampler used for this article, each one has its own distinct feel. Too many bands that Cosmos Gaming takes a look at have albums that start out well but quickly fall into repetition. But if Detour can keep each song as interesting as the four on this sampler, then their next album will be a hit for sure. This is the type of music that even casual rock listeners can turn on and just groove to.
Detour's music is melodic with a heavy edge, but still manages to be very listenable and quite radio friendly. Definitely give them a listen if you're into the rock genre and have the chance to see them live or get a recording they've done. They sound fresh while still reminding listeners of some of the hits of the past. It seems as though the band still plans to remain regionally oriented for a bit longer (as their current record label is located out of the Chicago area), but here's hoping that sometime in the future their success reaches a nationwide status and they get as much recognition as they deserve.
http://www.detourrock.com
Chris Dahlberg
March 07, 2006
