The following are just a few of the reviews that ArthurKill has received since joining the OnTop family.
We are looking forward to a successful Winter 2007 - 08 Launch of AK's second album 'The Pain'.
OnTop and ArthurKill would like to thank all of the reviewers,critics and independent website owners that have given their time and support to help us deliver our music to the masses.
Next up, for your consideration is rock/metal band Arthurkill from New York.
The first time we heard this quintet was at a low-budget radio-station show up in good old Keene, N.H. Arthurkill were staples to the station and after hearing the band play through some of their songs, its really no surprise.
Arthurkill doesn’t do anything that hundreds of other bands haven’t done before. Think Hinder, Linkin Park, and ShineDown. The biggest difference amongst these bands: Arthurkill does it better. Unlike these other bands, Arthurkill doesn’t seem to care whose listening or if anyone’s listening. They’re making rock and roll and they’re making it right.
We’ve had Arthurkill in our digital music libraries for a few years and songs like “Like a Drug,” “Rock Superstar,” “Closer to Free,” and “It’s No Good” are in constant rotation on our iPods. There’s something industrial sounding to Arthurkill’s sound and there’s something extremely metal and alternative all at once. But make no mistake. This is not party music. This is rock and roll fight music.
Of course none of those songs are on their player right now. Naturally, they’re featuring tunes from their latest offering “The Pain.” Don’t look so sad. The songs they’ve got up are fantastic. They offer a great groove and the band’s unique take on the Beatles’ classic “Come Together” is fresh and well, cool. It’s a tough task to take on the Beatles and then to make the song your own but Arthurkill has done it and we salute them for it.
The band has the musicianship down and if you have the opportunity to catch their live show, do it. They’ve got it all. They are rock superstars in waiting. Here’s hoping they don’t have to wait too much longer.
The first time we heard this quintet was at a low-budget radio-station show up in good old Keene, N.H. Arthurkill were staples to the station and after hearing the band play through some of their songs, its really no surprise.
Arthurkill doesn’t do anything that hundreds of other bands haven’t done before. Think Hinder, Linkin Park, and ShineDown. The biggest difference amongst these bands: Arthurkill does it better. Unlike these other bands, Arthurkill doesn’t seem to care whose listening or if anyone’s listening. They’re making rock and roll and they’re making it right.
We’ve had Arthurkill in our digital music libraries for a few years and songs like “Like a Drug,” “Rock Superstar,” “Closer to Free,” and “It’s No Good” are in constant rotation on our iPods. There’s something industrial sounding to Arthurkill’s sound and there’s something extremely metal and alternative all at once. But make no mistake. This is not party music. This is rock and roll fight music.
Of course none of those songs are on their player right now. Naturally, they’re featuring tunes from their latest offering “The Pain.” Don’t look so sad. The songs they’ve got up are fantastic. They offer a great groove and the band’s unique take on the Beatles’ classic “Come Together” is fresh and well, cool. It’s a tough task to take on the Beatles and then to make the song your own but Arthurkill has done it and we salute them for it.
The band has the musicianship down and if you have the opportunity to catch their live show, do it. They’ve got it all. They are rock superstars in waiting. Here’s hoping they don’t have to wait too much longer.
"With so many great new bands emerging from the East Coast, it amazes me that any of them get the exposure they truly deserve. Arthurkill is one such group of new talent that has erupted onto the scene and their debut LP, Addiction, is rock 'n' roll in its most unadulterated form.
First let me emphasize that Arthurkill doesn't have to rely on trendy progressions, saturated effects or ripping guitar solos to make their music work. Their style is a blend of untainted rock rhythms, grass-roots personalities and just a touch of pop, which makes for a great collection of catchy tunes with lots of gravity.
The whole album is a good listen, but the track that affected me most was a cover of Depeche Mode's "It's No Good." Arthurkill's version has been punched up and industrialized. In fact, it took me a couple of listens to figure out where I'd heard it before, which is a real credit to the band. The rest of Addiction is equally as engaging. Songs like "Down" and "Closer To Free" really show Arthurkill's ability to write music that catches your attention on many levels ... and Ken Munson's vocals bring a lot of power and melody to an already great group of musicians.
Overall I was totally impressed with Addiction. The album lives up to its title ... I give it a spin at least once a day and it still hasn't gotten old!"
First let me emphasize that Arthurkill doesn't have to rely on trendy progressions, saturated effects or ripping guitar solos to make their music work. Their style is a blend of untainted rock rhythms, grass-roots personalities and just a touch of pop, which makes for a great collection of catchy tunes with lots of gravity.
The whole album is a good listen, but the track that affected me most was a cover of Depeche Mode's "It's No Good." Arthurkill's version has been punched up and industrialized. In fact, it took me a couple of listens to figure out where I'd heard it before, which is a real credit to the band. The rest of Addiction is equally as engaging. Songs like "Down" and "Closer To Free" really show Arthurkill's ability to write music that catches your attention on many levels ... and Ken Munson's vocals bring a lot of power and melody to an already great group of musicians.
Overall I was totally impressed with Addiction. The album lives up to its title ... I give it a spin at least once a day and it still hasn't gotten old!"
"Wow, you mean there are other bands out there doing music besides EMO and Hardcore.Not to mention that these guys that these guys are one of the best hard rock bands I think I've heard in a long time. Who am I talking about? None other than NY's own ArthurKill. This five piece band has restored my faith back into the hard rock genre and has proven to me that after the EMO fad subsides, hard rock once again will be on top-undoubtedly led by ArthurKill, whose catchy and energetic array of music and performance have taken the area by storm. After hearing a few cuts from their old record 'Addiction' , there is no question that this band is destined for greatness.If their new album is half as good as 'Addiction', I think we'll be seeing some great things happening for ArthurKill.You definitely want to check this band out online at www.arthurkill.net and www.ontoprecs.com and hear for yourself what rock sounds like at it's finest."
"They kick ass and people need to hear them. I’ll continue playing the band for months. Arthurkill are top quality material and I’ve become a fan in a very short time."
ARTHUR KILL – ADDICTION: Arthur Kill is a five man band based out of Staten Island, New York. Ken Munson is the commanding lead vocalist and main songwriter for Arthur Kill. He pens bold songs about current events and life experiences. Arthur Kill's heavy sound is powered by two guitars and a strong rhythm section. They cite a broad range of influences including U2 and Pearl Jam yet their music is original – blending alternative, modern rock with a metal/punk attitude. Addiction is their debut CD that includes ten tracks and a video. Their songs are often hard driving but there are some mid tempo melodic songs mixed in for diversity. 'Open Your Mind' is the high-octane opener that races on an intense pace propelled by the bass, drums and guitars. Ken's vocals are fast and furious. 'Its No Good' is a rocking, innovative cover of the Depeche Mode classic complete with subtle, spacey sounds. 'Closer To Free' has a lighter rhythm that is catchy and Munson's vocals are clear and concise. Arthur Kill will hook you with their crunchy, hard rocking music and Addiction will have you coming back for more!
Arthurkill is so great, really one of my favourite releases for the last months...Keep an eye on them, they can make it all the way to the top! They have energy, anger but above all....great compositions.
A&R guys are going to love them!
A&R guys are going to love them!
Ah, Staten Island, infamous for its massive garbage dump, home to Goatmen, and a sad (but hopefully quick) stop between New York City and the Jersey shore. Now it might be more known for breeding heavy hard rock outfits like ArthurKill. Lyrically its not any more cerebral than your average bar band, but hey those guys are entertaining too right? What separates ArthurKill however is their smart use of electronica in their music to give it that kind of edge that purveyors of Gravity Kills and even early Stabbing Westward salivated towards. They lay their feet heavily on their crunchy distortion pedals, kick back with danceable percussion and groovy low-end, and allow their dynamically voiced singer smoothly lay it on thick. You will definitely visit Staten Island for this and then run screaming holding your nose afterwards.
Arthurkill is a heavy, melodic rock outfit hailing from Staten Island, New York. The Pain, their sophomore effort, is a collection of electronic-infused hard rock anthems and hook-laden power ballads ripe for radio airplay. The sonic tapestries woven by the proper mingling of layered synths and driving riffs on Arthurkill's heavier tunes ("On My Knees", in particular) has been a popular rock element to one degree or another since the late '90s due in part to bands like Gravity Kills and Stabbing Westward. These influential bands have made their mark on these four guys from New York, given that their heaviest moments have a decidedly industrial distorted feel.
The Pain wastes no time getting started as "On My Knees" launches from the speakers. Wearing their influences on their sleeves, the band pounds the listener with pulsating riffs from Steve Mironovich and Mike Petillo. Frontman and founder Kenny Munson has a coarse vocal style well-suited to the gritty drive of the song. Because of the outright heaviness of this track, it rises as my choice for the best on the album. The next track, "Come Together", is of course Arthurkill's version of the oft-covered Beatles tune. While I can really only give the track "OK" marks, it does feature a tumultuous solo from Steve that shows clearly just how well he can play. The last "official" track of the album is "Rock Superstar", a cover of the semi-classic Cypress Hill song. I found this to definitely be the better of the two cover performances, given that this composition better suits Arthurkill's crunchy modern sound.
As heavy as the leadoff track and covers are, Arthurkill's strength lies with the band's ability to produce catchy, melodic rock ballads in the vein of bands like Shinedown. The majority of the songs on The Pain fit this formula, and beginning with the title track the listener is introduced to wistful guitar melodies, longingly soulful vocals, and a strumming bass that begs to be slow danced to. Kenny adeptly switches from his aggressive style on the heavier tracks to a heartfelt performance on the ballads that lends considerable feeling to the lyrics. Of these slower tunes, "Life Goes On" stands above the others due in part to a very catchy chorus and an almost mournful lead guitar from Steve. Somewhat heavier than the title track, this song is tailor-made to be a radio hit.
On occasion Arthurkill treads towards a sound that reminds me quite a bit of Limp Bizkit, particularly on "World Go Round" and "Can't Back Down". Not quite as over the top as LB, there is still a hardcorish vibe to the tracks. The album closes with a couple of hidden acoustic tracks, including a version of "Life Goes On", that give a glimpse into the band's past and shows how they have grown since getting their start in the mid-'90s. Overall, The Pain is a solid modern rock album that will appeal to fans of what's heard on the radio these days. While not very original, these guys do what they do quite well and should spark interest as their name gets out.
The Pain wastes no time getting started as "On My Knees" launches from the speakers. Wearing their influences on their sleeves, the band pounds the listener with pulsating riffs from Steve Mironovich and Mike Petillo. Frontman and founder Kenny Munson has a coarse vocal style well-suited to the gritty drive of the song. Because of the outright heaviness of this track, it rises as my choice for the best on the album. The next track, "Come Together", is of course Arthurkill's version of the oft-covered Beatles tune. While I can really only give the track "OK" marks, it does feature a tumultuous solo from Steve that shows clearly just how well he can play. The last "official" track of the album is "Rock Superstar", a cover of the semi-classic Cypress Hill song. I found this to definitely be the better of the two cover performances, given that this composition better suits Arthurkill's crunchy modern sound.
As heavy as the leadoff track and covers are, Arthurkill's strength lies with the band's ability to produce catchy, melodic rock ballads in the vein of bands like Shinedown. The majority of the songs on The Pain fit this formula, and beginning with the title track the listener is introduced to wistful guitar melodies, longingly soulful vocals, and a strumming bass that begs to be slow danced to. Kenny adeptly switches from his aggressive style on the heavier tracks to a heartfelt performance on the ballads that lends considerable feeling to the lyrics. Of these slower tunes, "Life Goes On" stands above the others due in part to a very catchy chorus and an almost mournful lead guitar from Steve. Somewhat heavier than the title track, this song is tailor-made to be a radio hit.
On occasion Arthurkill treads towards a sound that reminds me quite a bit of Limp Bizkit, particularly on "World Go Round" and "Can't Back Down". Not quite as over the top as LB, there is still a hardcorish vibe to the tracks. The album closes with a couple of hidden acoustic tracks, including a version of "Life Goes On", that give a glimpse into the band's past and shows how they have grown since getting their start in the mid-'90s. Overall, The Pain is a solid modern rock album that will appeal to fans of what's heard on the radio these days. While not very original, these guys do what they do quite well and should spark interest as their name gets out.
Music Mayhem
Review: This is exactly what should be playing on your radio right now. I had this in my car for a month straight, and never got tired of it. Heavy alternative rock with a rhythm section that stays heavy, but has a pop feel to it. This could be an awesome rock show to go to, or it could be playing in a dance club. I know that sounds weird to say that about music this heavy, but I can't explain it any other way. What a great feeling you get when listening to this. Another unsigned band that should be signed and be promoted out the ass. Your missing out if you don't hear this disc!
