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ALTITUDES & ATTITUDE
Get It Out
Megaforce Records

Review By Francisco Zamudio

You will want to throw away any pre-conceived notions upon listening to the full-length debut by ALTITUDES & ATTITUDE. Unless that notion is that this will be a rockin’ album, then in which case you are not wrong. GET IT OUT (Megaforce) is the 2nd collaborative effort by MEGADETH’s David Ellefson and ANTHRAX’s Frank Bello, who had only previously released a self-titled EP back in 2014. Crazy to think that it was around 4 or 5 years ago when their collaboration was being talked about and I happen to run into both of them together in the Beer line at Winter NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) back in 2014.

What sort of music do 2 Bad-ass Bass Bosses bring, you ask? While there is hardly any Classic Thrash vibe we are used to hearing by their respective bands, this one falls more on the Post-Grunge and Alternative side of the coin. Bello handles the majority of vocals and The Boy from The Bronx has a real charismatic voice at that. Both he and Ellefson do great by switching back and forth from bass and guitar duties in structuring the songs. And returning to drum duties from the previous EP is Josh Fredl (A PERFECT CIRCLE, ASHES DIVIDE). One of my favorite tracks is "Booze and Cigarettes" with some lyrics that can hit home for many. This is 1 of the songs by the trio that really shows the root of the music that is A+A. That and "Here Again", which also hits heavy along with Tell the World are songs that were previously released on their 2014 EP and were remixed and remastered here for the full-length.

Not only is this powerful collaboration between Bello and Ellefson but they also brought on some of yesterday’s and today’s best shredders to GET IT OUT (pun intended). The Spaceman himself, Ace Frehley, makes an appearance on the track "Late", really complimenting the song. Space Ace’s tasty trademark soloing makes this one, one of many feel-good tunes on GET IT OUT. "Out Here" brings on Bello’s ANTHRAX bandmate Jon Donais on guitar to help tackle another deep musical emotion expressed artistically well. Additional help from Nita Strauss (ALICE COOPER), Gus G (FIREWIND) and Christian Martucci (STONE SOUR) rounds out this superb team effort of Pure Rock. Even an appearance by guitarist Russ Parish, aka Satchel from Sunset Strip Parody band STEEL PANTHER makes a tasty contribution on the instrumental track "Leviathan". Can’t help but mention THE POLICE vibe given off on the track "Talk to Me".

Music and art in itself, by definition, is a form of expression, and healthy one at that. As ‘feel-good’ as these songs are, lyrically they are the result of some deep and impactful moments in Bello’s life. Describing the cathartic opportunity music has provided him, “A lot of these lyrics are about the inner struggles of my life, and about the rage that has built up from my life experiences…” Through the music, he shares some of his personal battles. The unsolved murder of his brother, the abandonment by his father, ”The ups and downs of life in general. I’ve always had an anger inside that music really helps me deal with.” For Ellefson, GET IT OUT “is very much an important musical statement from Frank and me.” He goes on to say “To hear other sides of us as artists—not just as musicians and performers, but as artists, I think it’s something that we needed to go to the grave feeling like we’ve scratched that itch.” And A+A has done just that; A feel good album with substance. Lyrics one can gravitate to and perhaps many can identify with. No one dimensional clichés or cookie-cutter music. At this Altitude, GET IT OUT is a breath of fresh air.

3.5 Out Of 5.0