Creating original, edgy, organic rock with urgent guitar lines and little use for genre constructs or mainstream sheen, Subterra's underlying strength is the songs themselves, written by a guy (Howie Doyle) who was born too late to be Neil Young, too original to be 'commercial', and too instinctual to realize how emotionally raw his music sounds.
The heart and soul of the music parallels that of the seminal alternative rock genre -- before angst and irony became worn out cliches. Yet just when it appears souls are being bared, the raw spots are salved with swirling guitars and corrosive caveman-on-acid guitar solos.
Doyle the guitarist sounds like he is chopping at demons with his axe, while Doyle the vocalist is occasionally out of pitch, but not necessarily out of tune. At times his singing seems injected into the songs like crystal meth into a raging bull, and Subterra creates a beautiful noise, indeed...
Selected Press Clips:
03/00 - Jim Santo's Universe
Howie Doyle rips out an outstanding debut LP... that imperfect, perfectly human voice is a big part of this record's appeal. Some brilliant tunes here... every song is great in its own way.
04/99 Baxters Anti-Zine
"...how do I put this nicely, this is the STUFF! This is going to get a lot of plays, I can already tell that. Can you wear out a CD?"
05/99 - Gajoob.com
"Intense guitar solos cut at all the right places with loose precision and psychedelic diversity.... Get this CD. Get this CD now."
05/99 - CD Shakedown
"With his gutsy voice, Howie Doyle take the Texas singer/songwriter tradition and stretches into the alternative genre... The Speed of Pain is a constant winner."
03/00 - IndieMonkey.com
...intriguing lyrics, solid musicianship and a nice live recording feel, on what is a very professional, well put together album... A genuinely unexpected, if unpolished gem amongst the huge array of music I receive.
06/99 - Rockzone.com
Subterra is able to evoke a vast amount of emotion and spirit through their music... Subterra has made its way into my top ten for enjoyablity, honesty... that needs to be brought to the forefront of music today.
06/99 - Indie-Music.com
"Just Want to Let You Know" is an outstanding track.... This must be a true story because the emotion really comes through on this track.... Subterra is at it's best when it is at its moodiest."
05/99 - Mish Mash
"First and foremost, Doyle is a guitarist, and he struts his stuff in the full tilt rocker, "More Than There Is"... This one is going into my stack of favorites."
04/99 Geekstar
"...once you start listening, it sucks you in like a five dollar Saigon hooker... The recording and production jobs are well done... there are also lots of cool retro guitar sounds including that groovy swirling, reverse gated, overloaded fuzz tone on acid..."
03/99 Frames Per Second
Doyle's voice is expressive and, well, real. His lyrics are equally, if not more arresting... Moments of depth are not rare, either.
Track List:
1. 1969
2. It's Gonna Rain
3. More Than There Is
4. Just Want to Let You Know
5. Underground
6. Michael Stipe's Head
7. Love Is a Work of Art
8. Bothered
9. Shadowman
10. The Stagecoach
11. I Never Cared for You
12. The People Believed
13. Altar of Regret
Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
The heart and soul of the music parallels that of the seminal alternative rock genre -- before angst and irony became worn out cliches. Yet just when it appears souls are being bared, the raw spots are salved with swirling guitars and corrosive caveman-on-acid guitar solos.
Doyle the guitarist sounds like he is chopping at demons with his axe, while Doyle the vocalist is occasionally out of pitch, but not necessarily out of tune. At times his singing seems injected into the songs like crystal meth into a raging bull, and Subterra creates a beautiful noise, indeed...
Selected Press Clips:
03/00 - Jim Santo's Universe
Howie Doyle rips out an outstanding debut LP... that imperfect, perfectly human voice is a big part of this record's appeal. Some brilliant tunes here... every song is great in its own way.
04/99 Baxters Anti-Zine
"...how do I put this nicely, this is the STUFF! This is going to get a lot of plays, I can already tell that. Can you wear out a CD?"
05/99 - Gajoob.com
"Intense guitar solos cut at all the right places with loose precision and psychedelic diversity.... Get this CD. Get this CD now."
05/99 - CD Shakedown
"With his gutsy voice, Howie Doyle take the Texas singer/songwriter tradition and stretches into the alternative genre... The Speed of Pain is a constant winner."
03/00 - IndieMonkey.com
...intriguing lyrics, solid musicianship and a nice live recording feel, on what is a very professional, well put together album... A genuinely unexpected, if unpolished gem amongst the huge array of music I receive.
06/99 - Rockzone.com
Subterra is able to evoke a vast amount of emotion and spirit through their music... Subterra has made its way into my top ten for enjoyablity, honesty... that needs to be brought to the forefront of music today.
06/99 - Indie-Music.com
"Just Want to Let You Know" is an outstanding track.... This must be a true story because the emotion really comes through on this track.... Subterra is at it's best when it is at its moodiest."
05/99 - Mish Mash
"First and foremost, Doyle is a guitarist, and he struts his stuff in the full tilt rocker, "More Than There Is"... This one is going into my stack of favorites."
04/99 Geekstar
"...once you start listening, it sucks you in like a five dollar Saigon hooker... The recording and production jobs are well done... there are also lots of cool retro guitar sounds including that groovy swirling, reverse gated, overloaded fuzz tone on acid..."
03/99 Frames Per Second
Doyle's voice is expressive and, well, real. His lyrics are equally, if not more arresting... Moments of depth are not rare, either.
Track List:
1. 1969
2. It's Gonna Rain
3. More Than There Is
4. Just Want to Let You Know
5. Underground
6. Michael Stipe's Head
7. Love Is a Work of Art
8. Bothered
9. Shadowman
10. The Stagecoach
11. I Never Cared for You
12. The People Believed
13. Altar of Regret
Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
- ROCK: Classic Rock
- ROCK: Hard Rock
- FEATURING GUITAR