Dr Rage & The Uppercuts

. . .the Doctor unleashes one hell of a tortured, bluesy yowl, and he plays a mean - ass guitar. . . turns Led Zeppelin sideways with a dash of Black Crowes and that's pretty damn close to bliss.

Michael Molenda - Guitar Player magazine - Guitar Player magazine

. . .the Doctor unleashes one hell of a tortured, bluesy yowl, and he plays a mean - ass guitar. . . turns Led Zeppelin sideways with a dash of Black Crowes and that's pretty damn close to bliss.

Michael Molenda - Guitar Player magazine - Guitar Player magazine

SEXUS DIABLO
Dr. Rage & The Uppercuts
Absurd Machine Records
8-out-of-10
When you take blues and raunch it up with some southern rock flare, you end up with Dr. Rage & The Uppercuts.
I first heard these guys back in 2007 when I reviewed Hittin' Wood and Diamond Hard, a disk which I liked a lot. That earlier disk scored an eight, and Sexus Diablo is every bit as solid.
The band has changed some personnel since the 2007 release. Steve Silver is now on bass instead of Les Dzialik, Colin Musulak remains on drums and Chris Parkes is still on rhythm guitar, but is joined by Dan Grapko. Dr. Rage is of course still on lead guitar and vocals.
The band always had a power feel to it, but the addition of another guitar slinger certainly makes the new album a guitar-centric rumble of blues rock.
Rage has a growl to his vocals, and the wall of guitar music gives it that grungy, in the gutter, blues feel. It may not to be everybody’s taste, but it bridges the world of good old rock and my favoured world of blues just perfectly.
Rage wrote nine of the 13 songs here. Those not by his pen include the familiar Monkeybone, as well as Ego, Million Miles and Ain’t Get No Pooty.
As for Rage’s work, Greed is a growly good cut.
The Beast is a song Rage gears down just a bit with, and it comes out the best of the bunch here. This one is excellent.
This is a CD which would be a great way to start a new year of music y acquiring. Search it out folks. It’s a sure thing.
Check it out at http://drrage.ca
— CALVIN DANIELS

-- Review first appeared in Yorkton This Week newspaper Jan 6, 2010 - Yorkton, SK. Canada - Yorkton This Week - Calvin Daniels

SEXUS DIABLO
Dr. Rage & The Uppercuts
Absurd Machine Records
8-out-of-10
When you take blues and raunch it up with some southern rock flare, you end up with Dr. Rage & The Uppercuts.
I first heard these guys back in 2007 when I reviewed Hittin' Wood and Diamond Hard, a disk which I liked a lot. That earlier disk scored an eight, and Sexus Diablo is every bit as solid.
The band has changed some personnel since the 2007 release. Steve Silver is now on bass instead of Les Dzialik, Colin Musulak remains on drums and Chris Parkes is still on rhythm guitar, but is joined by Dan Grapko. Dr. Rage is of course still on lead guitar and vocals.
The band always had a power feel to it, but the addition of another guitar slinger certainly makes the new album a guitar-centric rumble of blues rock.
Rage has a growl to his vocals, and the wall of guitar music gives it that grungy, in the gutter, blues feel. It may not to be everybody’s taste, but it bridges the world of good old rock and my favoured world of blues just perfectly.
Rage wrote nine of the 13 songs here. Those not by his pen include the familiar Monkeybone, as well as Ego, Million Miles and Ain’t Get No Pooty.
As for Rage’s work, Greed is a growly good cut.
The Beast is a song Rage gears down just a bit with, and it comes out the best of the bunch here. This one is excellent.
This is a CD which would be a great way to start a new year of music y acquiring. Search it out folks. It’s a sure thing.
Check it out at http://drrage.ca
— CALVIN DANIELS

-- Review first appeared in Yorkton This Week newspaper Jan 6, 2010 - Yorkton, SK. Canada - Yorkton This Week - Calvin Daniels

Blues rock tends to favor musicianship first and foremost, but occasionally you'll find a band that is also willing to push the field in new directions and to a whole new level. The Canadian based rock band, DR. RAGE & THE UPPERCUTS is surely concerned about moving blues rock into the future, with outstanding songwriting and the awe-inspiring guitar work of Dr. Rage (whose vocals are just as powerful), which manages to sound both high-flying and respectably restrained at the same time. 'Hittin' Wood and Diamond Hard' is very POWERFUL. DR. RAGE & THE UPPERCUTS is composed of three veterans of the Canadian music scene and a young rhythm guitar player whom they've been grooming for the stage. The band was formed after an impromptu studio jam that was just simply mind-blowing! Is it groove based rock? Yes, it is, and that's because it is plumbing the depths of life, which includes pain. DR. RAGE & THE UPPERCUTS is the real deal. Their music beats you over the head from the start and does not let up. Featuring smoldering tracks like, "Backbiters and Syndicators," "Hey Lil' Sister" and a smokin' rendition of Willie Dixon's, "I Just Wanna Make Love To You". There is no doubt in my mind that this music will move you in a way unimaginable. DR. RAGE & THE UPPERCUTS will remind music fans of bands like, Gov't Mule and Allman Bros.
The whole album rocks! Other standouts include "Higher", Good Mornin' Lil' Schoolgirl" and "The Burden". The songwriting is top shelf and the band is tight. 'Hittin' Wood and Diamond Hard' is best listened to when alone, either in the car with volume set at 10, or at home with the headphones on and the volume set at 10! - All Access Magazine