Shooting Down Satellites
Loveland, Colorado, United States | SELF
Music
Press
Shooting Down Satellites’ The Sovereign EP takes modern rock into outer space, with an inviting combination of anthemic sounds and interstellar overtones. The opening track “Beautiful Backbone” begins with an ambient overture that leads into a charging song that establishes the theatrical scope of what’s to follow.
“Make Your Battles Mine” sees the band slow things down, opting for a more melodic approach. Bassist/vocalist Eric Pierce showcases his clean-sounding, pop-tinged vocal stylings throughout the track, favorably comparing to 311 vocalist Nick Hexum (no, seriously). Like Hexum, Pierce relies on simplistic, occasionally vapid lyrics, but his voice more than compensates for it.
The middle of the EP shines the brightest. “Cosmic Dancer” is a bombastic, operatic ballad that reaches for great heights, opening with soft, rhythmic arrangements that build into a blistering, minute-long climax. “Luna” allows the listener a moment of recourse, with tasteful harmonizing and another solid performance from Hansen.
“Invasion of the Body Snatchers” returns the disc to faster and tougher territory, adding sampled astronaut transmissions and piano keys into the fold as it gradually builds toward another epic finish, largely in the same way that “Cosmic Dancer” does – but with a bit more edge.
“Fortress” is a somewhat forgettable, by-the-numbers conclusion to an otherwise strong EP, but does maintain the high energy that shines through most of the disc. The Sovereign is an adventurous, attention-grabbing offering that falls somewhere in between the commercial and the cosmic. - Scene Magazine
Discography
The Sovereign EP (2011)
Photos
Bio
Where passion for life meets musical endowment, you will find the sonic landscape that is Shooting Down Satellites. With eloquent lyrics and powerful rock orchestration,
these four guys from Loveland, Colorado are sure to impress even the most staunch music critic. Influenced by bands such as Muse, RxBandits, and Mars Volta, SDS has
the music world buzzing with their intellectually-charged and authentic sound in The Sovereign EP.
Leaving the studio with their second EP in two years, Shooting Down Satellites is driven to get their new project into the hands of anyone that will listen.
"The record has a message of being progressive in a stagnant society, even when the odds are against you," says lead singer and guitar player Alex Waterfield. "You are
responsible for your own happiness and you cannot sell yourself short." With lyrics like "It's time to step up to strife, It's time to take back your life", these boys don't take their
message lightly. Waterfield, a longtime Shooting Down Satellites member, is new to the lead singer role. He has plunged into the deep end having never lead a band or even
singing until the opportunity to do so arose. Don't let the timeframe fool you; he has vocal chops that shame most veteran rock singers.
Recorded and produced at the underground phenomenon Birdcage Studios by Steve Parker, The Sovereign EP packs the punch of a traditional rock band with
the progressive sound of sequencing and keys by guitar player Scott Schwindt. A knowledgable studio asset to the band, Schwindt help shape the sound of the record with his
comprehension of sound engineering. Another key element to the SDS sound is the dynamic scope and sheer accuracy of drummer Eric Pierce. A perfectionist by nature, he doesn't
let a late hit or sloppy fill slip past his finely tuned ears. Add in the brilliant riffs and perfected tones from long-time bassist Brian Miller, and you
have a recipe for a band that has more talent than most seasoned players twice their age.
With dates lining up and venues already requesting SDS and their high energy stage show, The Sovereign EP is sure to take them to the top. They have already played at prestigious
events like FoCoMX and with the likes of I Am Empire and Marty Nightengale. The place that few bands ever see is where the rubber meets the
road, and that is exactly where Shooting Down Satellites and their astonishing sound are headed: vast success.
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