The Giessen-based band Atrio combines classic rock with elements of blues, independent music, and funk on their debut album. However, the album, recorded in 2019, could not be promoted due to the pandemic, and in ON STAGE promotion, the band found an agency that supports the up-and-coming band in pursuing its path.
The band's musical range is evident right from the first songs, all of which are original compositions. Crushing guitar riffs by Lars Gugler alternate with harmonious, melodic passages and choruses. Gian-Luca Paris on bass and Sascha von Struve on drums provide a solid rhythmic foundation, as befits a trio. This allows Atrio to present straightforward, unfussy rock that doesn't need to be embellished with gimmicks.
It's interesting how the band, in a sense, describes itself musically on the instrumental opener, "This Is Atrio." It transitions from hard riffs to bluesy passages, followed by ten more songs, of which the title track, "Blank," demonstrates that Atrio's style is in the direction of modern rock bands like Rival Sons, while also incorporating elements of Southern rock. Lars Gugler's powerful voice is absolutely convincing.
In the somewhat quieter "Through The Desert," Atrio's style moves toward independent music, and there are definite similarities to Audioslave. It's interesting how the band manages to establish a rhythm at the beginning that could easily be used to accompany a film footage of a galloping horse.
In the short instrumental "Taste The Blue," the Giessen-based band lets listeners figuratively taste the blues, before immediately shifting toward funky Southern rock with "Can You Relate," once again demonstrating the band's musical range. All the other songs occupy the stylistic space between the briefly mentioned pieces and demonstrate that there are also bands in Germany that have found their way from classic rock to modern, blues-infused hard rock, with a dash of independent music. It will be interesting to see how this powerful trio presents these songs live, allowing for the occasional improvisation.
01 This is Atrio
02 Blank
03 What you want
04 Finally Alone
05 Through The Dessert
06 Lost Again
07 Taste The Blue
08 Can You Relate
09 Relief
10 Getting Away
11 Pull The Trigger
