Surf Instro Review: The Penetrators-Locked & Loaded

The long-awaited Penetrators album is finally here, ready for your ears to consume. Locked & Loaded is standing by to renew your faithful addiction to one of the best surf-instro groups making music today. The wait was worth it, and the satisfaction of this release is palpable.

So, are you ready for an on-the-edge-of-your-seat action-adventure spectacular? The Penetrators are your answer to a musical James Bond. Their high-energy instrumental brand of built-for-musical-soundtrack spy thriller sound will leave you exhilarated and pumped up. With a deadly aim for your instrumental tendencies, this collection of surf-instro-spy-rock will satisfy your every need.

Rip Thrillby (guitar) rivals the intensity and note-for-note perfectionism of Ivan Pongracic of The Space Cossacks. That is not an easy task. He doesn’t have the explosiveness of Pongracic. His playing is more restrained to suit the style of the instrumental group. All things considered, his performance is marvelous. Having great rhythm guitarists enables great lead guitarists to excel. Spanky Twangler (rhythm guitar) lays down waves of exceptional rhythm guitar for Rip to surf upon. And it goes without saying…you need a kick ass rhythm section to create great instro music. Trace Luger (bass) and Illya (Sticks) Stechkin (drums) get the job done.

The two songs that caught my ear were “Triple-Dog Dare” and “Locked & Loaded.”

“Triple-Dog Dare” is a flavorful tune that showcases the group's ability to blend different genre influences, adding an element of surprise and intrigue. Meanwhile, the title track “Locked & Loaded” brings 007 right into your living room, complete with his martini, shaken not stirred. This track features a sexy saxophone lurking in the background and a seductive organ that draws you in even deeper. It’s a delightful surprise that the group should incorporate more often. It sounded wonderful. What can I say? I Love this stuff.

Every track is top-notch twang and reverb. This one is a real keeper. It's a sure-fire surf-instro classic.

Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck
March 11, 2001

Tracks:

01. Checkpoint Zero

02. 50 Bucks A Midget

03. Redlined

04. Midnight Run

05. Deception Bay

06. Another Time, Another Place

07. Codename: Gypsy

08. Speed Bump

09. Single-Malt Stomp

10. Triple-Dog Dare

11. Mariner

12. Locked & Loaded

13. Southeast Surf Syndicate Theme

Surf Rock Instro Review: The Aqua Velvets-Guitar Noir

The Aqua Velvets Facebook Page

After reading this review, you will quickly see how captivated I was by this band. And if I were to listen right now, I would feel the same. The Aqua Velvets were one of those bands that stood out among their contemporaries.

If you look at the cover of The Aqua Velvets' CD Guitar Noir closely, you can see two worlds far apart, yet very close. The eyes of a beautiful sandy beach watch… with palm trees as their eyelids, they look off into the distance and see the hustle and bustle of a modern-day city. The bridge that links the two vastly different worlds is close enough to touch. All right, snap out of it. It’s the Bay Bridge. It’s the bridge that connects Oakland to San Francisco. I traveled it hundreds of times myself, but I never had a beautiful vision as the one portrayed on the cover of this album.

The Aqua Velvets invite you on a captivating journey of fantasy and fiction with their latest masterpiece, “Guitar Noir.” Crafting enchanting soundscapes that are both beautiful and evocative, this group seamlessly fuses modern rock with exotica, lounge, surf, and Middle Eastern influences. The result is a mesmerizing instrumental music that will leave you spellbound and eager for more.

Within the CD's inner sleeve, you'll discover the musings and emotions that inspired the musicians, expertly translated into music. “Day In the Life Of A Private Eye” is a prime example of this, a musical narrative that exudes mystery, romance, and the thrill of being a private eye. “Casbah Club” is another compelling story, complete with a matching soundtrack. The group excels at this storytelling approach with every song, and it's a style of music that I adore.

The movie industry should wake up and take note. The Aqua Velvets have a goldmine of music that is meant for films. This is further evidence that some of the world's best talent can be found in genres that receive very little attention. This is probably why the people involved with this music remain so down-to-earth. It keeps the music and the people honest, and the result is musical perfection without words.

Speaking of words…there aren’t enough to express how good this music is.  Listening to this music is like watching a movie unfold in your mind, except there are no big screens or TVs, and the actor is you. You write the script, provide the actors, and The Aqua Velvets give you a soundtrack to complete your movie. Believe me, you need to connect with this part of yourself—Buy Guitar Noir (incredibly low priced on Discogs).

Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck
March 6, 2001

Tracks:

01. Guitar Noir

02. Prelude To Subterranea

03. Subterranea

04. Mysterious Mambo

05. Casbah Club

06. Venetian Silhouettes

07. Time Trapped

08. Day In The Life Of A Private Eye

09. Slow Dance With A Fast Girl

10. Twilight Of The Hepcats

11. Aqua Nova

12. Silver Of Moon

13. Moodswing Sonata

14. Mermaids After Midnight