For those that don’t know, and unfortunately, more are in that category than those that do know, the name of the band is not a typo. It is simply Ra, a name derived from the ancient Egyptian solar deity…a sun god. It is a fitting name given frontman Sahaj Ticotin’s sun fetish (many of Ra’s songs contain the word “sun” in the lyrics). With a penchant for brevity, the title of their latest single – “Supermegadubstep” – seems a bit ironic. Of course, Ra has always marched to the beat of their own drum, leaving their major record label in 2006 before the label had the chance to release them. Their roller coaster ride of a career is largely due to the fickle nature of the record business, not their ability to write and produce quality hard rock songs.
Their major label days long behind them, it’s been a 4-year wait for a new Ra release. “Supermegadubstep” is the first single off of their upcoming, self-produced album, Critical Mass. Although the band is still something of a hidden gem, they still managed to raise $31,465 to record the new album through their Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign (more than doubling the goal amount).
With “Supermegadubstep,” Ra has delivered a great song with crunching power chords driving the verses and an infectious chorus that will have you singing the song all day long in your head. One of the most intriguing aspects of Ra’s music is their dynamic approach to songwriting. The shredding guitar solo and guitar harmonies at the beginning of the song set the tone for the heaviness that ensues, but then they pull it back before kicking into the chorus with guitar parts that are reminiscent of The Police’s “Every Breath You Take.” Of course, the band has done a cover version of “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic,” so The Police influence is not a total surprise, just its placement in an otherwise heavy song.
If not for Ra’s trying times with the music industry, you would assume that the lyrics of “Supermegadubstep” were written about a failed romance, but in this case, these lyrics could just as easily be about their musical journey. Regardless of whether the song is about a girl or the music business, one thing is clear…Ra is back with a vengeance, kicking ass and taking names. Hopefully, this will be the record that elevates them to their rightful place in the hard rock community.
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