"HMAS CERBERUS" By ReeToxA
By By Kathy Brutus
The first sounds heard in the track HMAS CERBERUS create an atmosphere that may be cozy and new at the same time. This track has a clean new sound yet merges the styles of nostalgic and raw sounds, striking the emotional balance of listenable and raw. It’s a perfect blend of feel-good and classic pub and Aussie rock. The energy of the rock really serves the purpose of keeping the consumers engaged. It even has a guest guitar solo from Marios Iliopoulos of Nightrage, and the track really is not in the rock space to which the intended purpose of an Aussie pub track really is to make a rock track. The light chaos really serves the deep purpose of the track.
HMAS CERBERUS challenges ReeToxA's creativity. The song narrates the story of Jason McKee's decade-long Navy service and addresses subjects that most artists steer clear of, like PTSD, alcohol addiction, and psychological damage stemming from military service. Watching "four seasons in one day" from a Melbourne beer garden inspired him to reflect on a life characterized by perpetual movement and a restrained emotional state. The lyrics are brutally honest and never romanticize trauma. The proof of this honesty is in the richness of the trauma and the lyrics. The song is also humane.
McKee gives an engaging performance that is sincere. He lacks vocal polish, but this is what makes his singing strong. His voice is faded and aged, which fits the subject of the song. He gives every line an emotional touch and strength. His singing has regret and reflection, as well as the strength of keeping it restrained. He does not oversing, but instead, he lets the story of the song guide him. He shows that in artistic expression, oversinging is not as important as being vulnerable.
From a production perspective, HMAS CERBERUS made the most of its rebuilt modern production and underwent a positive transformation. The song, which was first demoed in 1993, has been rediscovered with clarity, depth, and a more balanced sound to space all the elements of the song, from guitars to strings. The song is a part of the composite "Pines Salad," and it showcases a song composer of great experience. It is not just well produced, but rather more thoughtfully produced than most.
HMAS CERBERUS stands apart because it is unafraid to be honest. It manages to be heavy, yet still avoid hopelessness. It is introspective, while also not losing its groove, and it is serious, yet remains accessible. For the second time, ReeToxA has demonstrated the ability to create a deeply introspective track that invites self-reflection while also making it the type of track people can move to. It shows, once again, that music can help process pain and make connections on the dance floor or in a moment of shared listening.
This is a compelling songwriting example that proves there is still a place for honest songwriting. If alternative rock, or grunge, or storytelling on a deeply personal level, or all three are to your liking, then you will find something to speak to you in this release. It is one of those songs that you can listen to multiple times. There are certain songs that you listen to until the end, and it is gone. This one will help you empathize, understand, and even speak about it. If you want to stream something that is a little on the emotional side, yet also has decent musicianship, this is the one.