On their seventh release in the last 7 years, the Southern California band, Face to Face, has mixed high technology with a good old-fashioned mix of high-powered and unadulterated punk and pop punk. Loading 16 songs on their website, they asked fans to pick their top 12 selection. After getting an astounding 1.8 million internet votes, the CD Reactionary was born. Still a cult-following band, they are positioning themselves for bigger things. Their music is full of raw energy, fast guitar, pounding drums, and smooth, slick vocals. Led by singer/songwriter Trevor Keith on vocals and guitar, the band has a unique yet recognizable sound that harkens back to the cutting edge bands of both the early 1980’s and ‘90’s. Rounding out the quartet are Scott Shifflet, bass, Chad Yaro, guitar, and Peter Parada, drums.

Even the cover art on this CD is compelling. It presents chemists in shades of gray meticulously working chemical reactions. Reactionary is the explosive result. This is without a doubt, a classic dance party CD. Play this from start to finish and the crowd will be sweat-laden and drained from the force of the music. On tracks like "Think for Yourself" and "Disappointed," Keith and the band are able to translate the powerful emotions of betrayal into a pounding musical attack that could resolve any conflict. As a whole, the CD is packed with focused, searing emotions that are slickly transformed into music. Each track is a power-packed indictment of some kind – either of self or another.

Face to Face will be touring the States throughout August and September. The closest they’ll be to Connecticut is The Palladium in Worcester, Massachusetts on September 10. They’re worth the ride. If you’re connected, I’d check out their website – www.facetoface.com — it has everything you’d want to know about the band, and its truly state of the art. Use it to find out where you can find this CD, you’ll have a great reaction.

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