Lono

4 stars: A full album is neceessary from these metallized giants


Reviewer: John Book, Music For America
Lono are a four-piece metal band from Boston, MA who are progressive in the Tool, Queensryche, and King's X sense. The Catalyst (Angry Villagers Music) is a five song EP performed by a band who are very sure about their song. Vocalist Jon Woodard has the kind of voice that starts out showing his love for melodies and depth, and then belts it out by reaching for the skies without going overboard. The progressive side is explored in-depth with "The Post-Historic Prometheus", where things sound ethereal with distorted guitars and haunting vocals before the band (Woodard on vocals and organ; Nic Rochefort on drums; Robb Edinburg on bass; and Ian Aaberg on guitars) starts ripping and playing with power and strength. The changes throughout the song is very reminiscent of mid-80's Celtic Frost and Voivod. The sound quality of this demo CD is decent, but there's not enough low end to rupture the stomach, as the music suggests. Even in this form, the songs are ready for a wide release, but I would prefer to hear a souped up mix. I feel if they did that, these guys would gain more attention. A full album is necessary. - John Book, Music For America

4 stars: A full album is neceessary from these metallized giants


Reviewer: John Book, Music For America
Lono are a four-piece metal band from Boston, MA who are progressive in the Tool, Queensryche, and King's X sense. The Catalyst (Angry Villagers Music) is a five song EP performed by a band who are very sure about their song. Vocalist Jon Woodard has the kind of voice that starts out showing his love for melodies and depth, and then belts it out by reaching for the skies without going overboard. The progressive side is explored in-depth with "The Post-Historic Prometheus", where things sound ethereal with distorted guitars and haunting vocals before the band (Woodard on vocals and organ; Nic Rochefort on drums; Robb Edinburg on bass; and Ian Aaberg on guitars) starts ripping and playing with power and strength. The changes throughout the song is very reminiscent of mid-80's Celtic Frost and Voivod. The sound quality of this demo CD is decent, but there's not enough low end to rupture the stomach, as the music suggests. Even in this form, the songs are ready for a wide release, but I would prefer to hear a souped up mix. I feel if they did that, these guys would gain more attention. A full album is necessary. - John Book, Music For America

May 4, 2007

Lono listeners are in for roller-coaster ride
By Kerry Purcell
Boston Herald Features Reporter

Boston quartet Lono would like to thank the late Hunter S. Thompson for its name and its musical style.
The Berklee College of Music grads named their band for the Hawaiian god of music, fertility and peace, after reading gonzo journalist Thompson’s “The Curse of Lono.” In it, Thompson recalls a vivid hallucinogenic experience when he believed he was the reincarnation of Lono.

“It’s fitting,” Lono singer Jonathan Woodard said. “A lot of what we do is filtered reality.”
Sitting on the wood stools at Great Scott, the band griped about getting pigeonholed as a metal act. Metal, they say, is just part of what they do. Drummer Nic Rochefort grew up playing jazz, funk and rock in Quebec. Bassist Robb Edinburg is a self-admitted “pop junkie” who’s not too cool to profess a love for mainstream hits (well, at least some mainstream hits).
“We’re not a one-listen band,” Woodard said. “You can enjoy it during the first listen or dissect it and find all of these cool, complicated things.”

Lono’s debut, a five-song EP, is titled “The Catalyst.” It weaves prog rock psychedelia with metal riffs and a sprinkling of Middle Eastern sounds. Recorded at Squid Hell recording studio in Forest Hills, guitarist Ian Aaberg explained that the unfinished, non-soundproofed walls at the brand new studio made for some “crazy tones” on the EP.
That wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Lono likes finding new sounds when playing live. “The live set is more improvised,” Aaberg said. “Jon will chat with the audience, but Robb and Nic never stop playing.”
And this so-called metal band even gets jammy with guitar solos that can last for 15 minutes. “The guitar solo is a building piece,” Woodard said, “and a buildup makes much more sense live. Our CD is like a snapshot of a roller coaster. You can remember how good it was, but it’s not the same thing.”
Lono is planning an East Coast tour, but that’s not the ultimate dream. When Woodard says they’d rather be living “on an island in Tahiti, writing our next Grammy-winning album,” the rest of Lono nods in agreement. The Hawaiian god of music, fertility and peace no doubt approves, too. - Boston Herald