RIFTROCK REVIEWS

Griz

My Evolution
Posted by Travis Bain
10/25/04

Who ever said rap-metal is dead? This is what solo artist Griz is trying to prove wrong. His debut album My Evolution released through independent record label Ragin’Grace, displays a tough and angry 250 pound man from New York that has something to say. But every tough guy has a soft side and with one glance at his lyrics that are emotional and clever you would agree.

The first song on the album caught my ears and I couldn’t stop listening. The song “Hardcore,” is an introduction to the mind of Griz and the whole album. The chorus has an atmospheric yet heavy guitar groove that is infectious and can get anyone’s head moving up and down to the beat. With vocals that are rapping, yelling, and singing it is full of every element that anyone can admire topped off with pissed off lyrics. “We don’t look like you / We don’t dress like you cause we don’t do everything society says we’re supposed to / Who the fuck made the rules / Guess what I’m here to break them.”

The musicianship is not just your basic heavy metal power chords but more substance. In the song “Save Me,” there is a full blown guitar solo done by guitarist Steve Miceli that shows this band are intelligent musicians. “Backbone,” is a ballad that has no distorted guitar but just clean beautiful melody lines that compliments Griz’s love letter to a significant other. He puts all his emotion and shows his vulnerable soft side with lyrics like “You’re the rib that god has taken from me / I’ll never fall / … The breath in my lungs / The earth from which I feast / You’re the one I love.”

The CD has many attitudes that show the various faces of Griz’s personality. Most of the songs are of a tough pissed off alpha male complex mixed with heavy metal and rapping vocals. However, the songs that are of deep issues and show the sensitive side of Griz and give the album character that is multi-dimensional and makes the final message incredible. I never listened to rap-metal but Griz is the exception. I would recommend this album to anyone who likes rap-metal and people who are curious to form their own opinion.