Sal Piamonte is able to imbue rock music with a vitality that is matched only by the asheer array of styles and influences that are present during Lives in Devil City. Fans of Hinder, Papa Roach, and even Lostprophets will find something to sink their teeth into. Take Me Home is a track that just feels destined for radio rotation; with a set of vocals that will ensure listeners and tight instrumentation that will keep them focused in, Piamonte has an early victory. Devil Woman speeds things up considerably and lets the guitar fight for dominance with Piamonte’s inimitable voice.
With each side (instrumental and vocal) pushing the other higher and higher, the momentum that is achieved during the early measures of the disc is astounding. With Get Up Get Up, the guitar work allows for an incredibly dense arrangement to be created. While the vocals provide the narrative aspect to the track, I feel that the harmonies achieved by Piamonte here are utilized by the guitars, drums, and bass to make for a more full sounding effort. I personally like the inclusion of Just A Little Bit, as this slower-tempo track provides listeners with a decidedly different side of Piamonte. This ballad ratchets up the storytelling aspect of Lives in Devil City, and provides Piamonte with a possible path for his next album. The more emotive and earthy style of Just A Little Bit is continued with Tonight, a bass-heavy track that will remind listeners of artists like Interpol and Alkaline Trio.
Where it is a major struggle for acts to continually innovate and change up their sound on an album, Piamonte is able to come forth with a scintillating tour de force through the different sides of modern and current rock. I feel that Piamonte will be rocketing up he charts just as soon as a wider swath of listeners are able to pick up this album. Check out Lives in Devil City today and see if he is playing anywhere around you.
Top Tracks: Take Me Home, Get Up Get Up
Rating: 8.4/10
Sal Piamonte – Lives in Devil City (CD) / 2011 Self / 10 Tracks / http://www.salpiamonte.com