November 27th saw rising Kent rockers Collateral release their brand new single “Can’t Hold Me Down” through Roulette Media.
The track, which was recorded and produced by Collateral and mixed by Grammy nominated producer and engineer Romesh Dodangoda (Bring Me The Horizon, Funeral For A Friend, Motorhead) is the bands most powerfully uplifting and empowering single to date.
“Can’t Hold Me Down” is the first piece of new material to feature the bands newly expanded six-piece line-up which includes new members Robert Fenning (keyboards) and Louis Malagodi (guitar) alongside original members Angelo Tristan (lead vocals, guitar), Todd Winger (guitar), Jack Bentley-Smith (bass), and Ben Atkinson (drums).
“Can’t Hold Me Down’s” message inspires individuals to always be their best, no matter what the obstacles are, no matter what is thrown at them and symbolises hope in a world that has seen industries, businesses and even families collapse in recent months due the pandemic.
The track is my first real chance to hear a band, who I openly admit I adore, both as people and musicians. I was particularly interested to hear what difference the addition of Malogodi and Fenning would make to the bands overall sound and vibe.
They did play two sold out gigs for The Rock Co-Operative at Leo’s Red Lion in Gravesend in September which sold out almost as soon as the tickets went on sale but unfortunately my own circumstances around Covid meant I was not able to try and grab what became a very sought after space in a superbly managed socially distanced gig.
Talking about the single, Singer Angelo Tristan says : “Many bands were struck hard at the start of the year with Collateral being struck halfway through their debut album tour that reached Top 5 in the Official UK Rock Charts so there is no surprise that frustration would lead to an empowering full out rock song that would hopefully inspire people across the world to keep focus on the light at the end of the tunnel… and that is exactly what they have done.
Can’t Hold Me Down is a song that has many layers and stories that ultimately comes back to one thing, ‘I won’t be held down’. We didn’t want to write a typical ‘Covid’ song. What’s the point? The 6 o’clock news is doing that for you day in day out.
People don’t need that right now. Some people might see this as a rebellious track. Maybe it is. Our intention is only to try and inspire people to get through the other side of this with a track that brings comfort and a hard pounding beat.”
“Can’t Hold Me Down” starts off with some silky smooth harmonious layered vocals that make your ears prick and take real notice. What follows over the next four minutes can only be described as a triumphant slab of dazzling melodic hard rock.
It is a revitalizing and energizing number that gives you a much needed shot in the arm at the end of what has been a sombre, difficult and decidedly downbeat 2020. The catchiness of the track gets inside your head almost instantaneously and takes control of your index figure, causing it to hover over and keep pressing the repeat button on your stereo, phone or whatever device you listen to your music on.
The beat to the track should quickly get you up on your feet and jumping up and down and the instantly memorable and contagious chorus should have you singing along.
When you add in the chest thumping sound of the drums and the blistering guitar work including a couple of exquisitely written solos that fit so beautifully into the song you have here a rather magnificent piece of music that should see Collateral take some more hastily trodden steps into the big league.
Founding member and frontman Angelo Tristan has never shied away from his own personal adoration of Jon Bon Jovi and in a world where Bon Jovi no longer seen to write those pumping, hands in the air, guitar driven anthems we remember them so fondly for, I think that in Collateral the rock music world has possibly found a band that could take up that much desired legendary mantle.
In “Can’t Hold Me Down”, Collateral have written a track that in many ways, in 2020, out Bon Jovi’s Bon Jovi and if they keep writing music of this calibre then the rock world will soon be laying at their feet as it will have found a suitable replacement to carry that torch for the music that they crave so badly.
The single is available at https://smarturl.it/Collateralcantholdme
Angelo Tristan – Lead Vocals and Guitar
Todd Winger – Guitar
Louis Malagodi – Guitar
Robert Fenning – Keyboards
Jack Bentley-Smith – Bass
Ben Atkinson – Drums
Collateral online
Website – www.collateralofficial.com
Facebook – www.facebook.com/collateralrocks
Twitter – www.twitter.com/collateralrocks
Review by Darren Smith for MPM
Instagram – www.instagram.com/collateralrocks
