photo by Lisa Hagopian; photo courtesy of Chain Reaction

EP Review of Chain Reaction: Still in the Game

I first reviewed a Chain Reaction album 25 years ago. And, as the new album’s title suggests, these straight-up classic rockers are Still in the Game, writing fun, catchy songs and delivering them with gusto, definitely appealing to a classic rock audience. Of course, a nice byproduct of discovering Chain Reaction was getting to know vocalist-guitarist Eric Harabadian. We connected 25 years ago after I wrote a review about how kickass his band was, and Eric has written for my various publications ever since. So yeah, this is Blog contributor Eric’s band. Well, the guys in Chain Reaction – Bobby D (guitars, vocals), Eric Harabadian (lead vocals, guitars), Larry Fritzley (bass), and Jeff Phillips (drums) – still kick it, which is several steps up from simply being “still in the game.”

image courtesy of Chain Reaction

To prove their mettle – metal? no, classic rock – Chain Reaction kicks off the first song, “Playmaker,” with a very AC/DC-like guitar riff. The song sports a rhythmic pace, a chorus that’ll have you anticipating the song title as you listen, and fun lyrics like “save the drama for your mama” that invite you listen closely for clever turns of phrase.

“Still in the Game,” the title track, is a classic-styled, rattling, jangly, mid-tempo classic rocker. The rhythm of the verses is likely to lull the listener into a steady-tempoed complacency before being jolted by the more insistent chorus; it’s an attention-maintaining trick used deftly by Chain Reaction in this never-too-old-to-rock anthem.

“In Our Own Image” has a peppier yet more sidewinding rhythm than the previous tracks. The vocal change of pace delivered early on during the lyrics “keep on, keep on lookin’ back” is one of the song’s many clever whiplashy tempo adjustments, which distract you from its thoughtful lyrics, requiring intentional listening to pay attention to the song’s thoughtful message. (Worry not, you’ll remember to pay closer attention next time.)

photo by Lisa Hagopian; photo courtesy of Chain Reaction

“American Son,” the penultimate track, is the most progressive rock-influenced song on this EP. The instrumentation is less dense than the previous cuts, while harmony vocals combine with the lyrics to craft an almost middle earth quest-like prog rock vibe.

Final track “Rumors of War” shows that Chain Reaction doesn’t shy away from difficult topics. The second-most proggy song on the EP, this would be a terrific rock ‘n roll entry for an issue-based anti-war compilation album with lyrics like “History has shown that when the tension’s overblown, it’s hard to see the forest for the trees.” Though not quite as memorable as Wyld Stallyns’ primary mantra, Chain Reaction, on this song seems to be imploring the world to “Chill out! And live in peace, dudes!”

As a whole, Still in the Game is raw and lightly produced, replicating the energy of a live Chain Reaction performance. It marks the first release in a quarter-century from one of metro Detroit’s finest classic rock acts, and it’s well worth the wait!

Looking Ahead

While this album showcases Chain Reaction’s capabilities as a live act, the band does not appear to currently have any live shows scheduled. But keep an eye on the “Live Shows” page of the band’s website and be sure to follow Chain Reaction on Facebook for the latest band news, including the announcement that the first video from this EP, for the title track “Still in the Game,” is soon to be released.