CHEMICAL BURN – Get Off The Couch, Rock is Alive and Well!

Chemical Burn - Brian Ronald — Flying High at the **Rockpile**

Hot summer nights and live rock and roll, quite possibly the greatest combination since Jack and Coke. Last night proved just that, when Chemical Burn took to the stage at Toronto’s Rockpile. A couple of months ago, Chemical Burn‘s debut CD Smokin Mirrors landed on my lap and since then I have anxiously awaited an opportunity to catch these boys live. So when I noticed they were on the bill in support of heavy metal legends Riot, I jumped at the chance for a night out to take in some live rock and roll.

Chemical Burn kicked off their set with my favourite track from their Smokin Mirrors album, “Cherry Red To Monacco”. An absolute killer track, that totally hooked me in the first time I heard it. Live these guys are the epitome of all that is good about rock and roll. Quite often today’s bands struggle to match the energy and quality of their recordings, Chemical Burn on the other hand absolutely crush it live.

Vocalist Eddie Aresenic is electric personified, like a coiled rattlesnake he made sure to cover every inch of the Rockpile stage and even threw in a reckless backflip for good measure. Not since Russ DWaRf (Killer Dwarfs) have I seen as much energy from a front-man, totally rock and roll. The only time he slowed down was when he strapped on the guitar for one of the new songs “Jaded Man”, a southern fried, Skynyrd flavoured rocker.

Guitarist Alexander Rowe showcased some serious face-melting fret board skills as they delivered “Black Widow”, another solid track from the CD.

The final song of the set, a new track called “Spitfire” opened up with the most gnarly, distorted bass intros courtesy of Dylan Cassels (as a bass player myself, it was awesome!) that launched into what is my new favourite Chemical Burn song. A balls out rocker with a big sing-along chorus.

New to the Toronto scene, Chemical Burn are without a doubt one band to keep an eye on and go see live! Get off the couch Toronto! Rock is alive and well, Chemical Burn is living proof.

Comprised of Eddie Aresenic – Vocals, Alexander Rowe – Guitars/Vocals, Dylan Cassels – Bass/Vocals, Jesse Karu – Drums/Vocals

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