Review: Acidic – Chronic Satisfaction

“Acidic display strut and an uncanny ear for rock, shake ‘n’ roll melodies…”

Artist Name: Acidic
Album Name: Chronic Satisfaction
Year: 2011
Genre: Rock/Alternative Rock
Label: Rocket Science

Californian rock band Acidic got themselves noticed by winning the Alternative category in Billboard’s 2011 WorldWide Song Contest for their song ‘Strata Red,’ off of their 2010 release, Getting Lucky. Maybe that’s why it is a bit mind-boggling to fathom how this band is still not with a major label. Even on Chronic Satisfaction, their latest album, Acidic display strut and an uncanny ear for rock, shake ‘n’ roll melodies (with the sporadic throwback to heyday of the LA Strip), yet never treading too far away from the mainstream waters – ‘15 Miles’ or the ever-catchy-chorus of ‘Uninspired’ have all the makings of Top 100 commercial radio hits, and should satisfy a multitude of audiences. However, before you close your browser due to the anger of the mere mention of radio rock, understand that Chronic Satisfaction also has rich rock tracks rolled into this fattie of an album – the classic rock riffs, nifty fretwork, anthemic vocals (Mike Gossard could very well be Craig Mabbitt (Escape The Fate) in disguise) and more rhythm than your high school prom of livewires, such as ‘Black Box,’ ‘The Brave,’ and ‘Ironic Dreams,’ are worth the time of any serious rock fan. While Chronic Satisfaction isn’t defining or sensational, it might be the launch pad that Acidic have required to get to the next level. Watch out for this band.

Best Tracks: ‘Uninspired,’ ‘Black Box,’ and ‘The Brave’

68/100

- Josh Smith