“Everything’s Bigger In Texas,” or so goes one of the Lonestar State’s numerous mottos. Hailing from the land of ZZ Top and rapid-fire executions is Edgewater...bigger and badder than most.

Vocalist Matt Moseman (a heavier Ray Liotta look-alike?) has assembled a deft lineup of musicians with which to perform quick-draw hard rock mayhem and shoot-em-up song writing.

Running the gamut from raucous to radio-friendly, Edgewater are tough to pigeonhole based on the material presented here on “South Of Sideways.” This could be a testament to the quartet’s song-crafting abilities or simply the sign of a band that haven’t yet found themselves. Consider this jury hung.

“...Sideways” is a collection of 12 songs, 7 older songs recrafted from their full-length demo “Lifter” along with 5 recently penned stylings. Opening with a heart-stopping “Inhale” and reminiscent of Cold or Trust Company, Edgewater hit all the appropriate tempos and outward displays of angst.

The reason Wind-Up signed the band is the Nickleback-tinged “Eyes Wired Shut” an older Edgewater song reworked and updated for inclusion here and easily the stand-out track. This is the big push for them as it additionally introduces the band’s website and is included on the Wind-Up Records produced “Punisher” soundtrack. A bit of a triple-dip, but there is nothing tastier on the current Edgewater menu.

Other standouts include the infectious “Sweet Suffocation” and the luminous “Story Of...”. Both songs have a hooky chorus that will have you remembering it after the disc is over.

Wind-up seems to be trying to fill the Nickelback / Fuel / Three Doors Down slot in their stable of artists and while some of Edgewater’s vision seems to sustain that notion, their tide does turn in a decidedly, and maybe forced, harder direction.

A follow up album will illuminate if the stars at night are, in fact, big and bright in the heart of Texas.

• Visit the Official website.
• Listen to samples and Purchase this CD online

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