February 5, 1998

Acoustic Trauma

Playing acoustic rock & roll is not the normal path. Acoustic Trauma know that and even address it in their debut CD's opening track, "Senile": "The new generation with that loud rock & roll/ Now they're out to convert me, but I won't let them touch my soul."

Don't think for a second that just because it's acoustic, it's tame. You have to work a lot harder to make an acoustic guitar cut through the din of drums and electric bass, but Paul Maceli proves himself a very fine guitarist. Often the bass takes on the role of the guitar, playing fills and lead lines; at other times, Maceli burns off inventive, finger blistering acoustic guitar solos. Their lyrics, however, range from fair to sophomoric in tunes such as "Cool Right Now," "Mosquito" and "White Lies," and it's where they may need to extend themselves more.

The best thing about Acoustic Trauma is that they don't immediately conjure images of their influences or other popular bands. They actually sound like themselves-the hardest thing to do.

A strong first outing by a challenging and intriguing new band.

-Dave Malachowski

METROLAND, Albany, NY

December 3, 1998 Issue

Acoustic Trauma

Spirits (Armadillo)

When Paul Maceli and his bandmates in Acoustic Trauma cut loose, they can make some pretty fierce noise. Maceli, a Latham-based hyphenate who sings, plays six- and 12 string guitars (as well as violin) and also produced his band's second CD, Spirits, has a ravenous appetite for prog-rock jamming that blasts his music into uncharted territory. He starts "Menemsha" with a few shrill, haunting strokes on his violin, then attacks the instrument with heavy-metal ferocity as drummer Baccaro and bassist Turner jump in with a vicious beat that lets Maceli wail on violin until the song goes totally wild. Then, two-and-a-half minutes into the song, the band groove into a slower beat and then drop out entirely to let Maceli grind out more surreal violin notes that slide the band into the next track, "Krawl," a creepy space-age tune that would make great background music for a horror movie.

But Spirits has more to offer than just aggressive instrumentals-"Rattlesnake" is a pounding, melodic number on which Maceli's belted vocals mesh tightly with the band's diesel-powered crunch. Some of the softer vocals on the disc are undecipherable, even though Maceli's production is generally crisp, but when Turner opens up a loping bass line, Baccaro snaps out a staccato brass pattern and Maceli churns one of his intricate guitar figures, words don't matter much-everything gives way to the intense forward momentum of the music. Half of Spirits was recorded live at Valentine's, and it's to the band's credit that the live tracks-ranging from the chimey "Senile" to the turgid "Cool Right Now"-have as much jittery mojo as the studio efforts.

-Peter Hanson

METROLAND,  Albany, NY

December 31, 1998 Issue

Top 10 Local Albums of '98

{Listed #10:   "Acoustic Trauma"}

Critic: J. Eric Smith

Spirits (Armadillo)

Part live album, part studio album, all amazing record-and don't be swayed by the word "acoustic" in the band's name, since "trauma" is more relevant to this aggressive progressive outfit's approach.