Reality Suite's first full-length album focuses on pure melodic rock
Many bands experiment musically to fight off stagnation. North Jersey's Reality Suite recently found themselves in the opposite position.
By the time the band was ready to begin work on their first full-length album last year, Reality Suite had grown weary of adorning their rock foundation with dance beats and synth-pop, as heard on early singles and EPs.
"I could sense we were tired of trying to be different for the sake of being different," said drummer Brian King. "We weren't focused. We were starting to lose our edge."
Reality Suite decided to concentrate on pure melodic rock and jettison the trimmings, a decision that King said revitalized the five-year veterans and resulted in "Skinn," an exciting and dynamic debut disc that was released Friday. Reality Suite performs on Wednesday in Teaneck.
"We feel like a fresh, new band with new energy and it's very liberating," said King, a Totowa resident and North Haledon native. "The songs that we always seemed to react to best were the straight-ahead rock songs. We finally said, 'Let's just do what we do best.' "
Reality Suite's rejuvenation was sparked in part by the late-2013 arrival of new singer Kimmii Heart, a Lodi resident and Mahwah native. She joined King and his fellow original members, guitarist Joe Padula (Wood-Ridge) and bassist Antonio Valenti (North Haledon).
"Kimmii brought a rock edge and attitude, which furthered our belief in going down a new route," King said. "She's a very commanding singer. Lyrically she's more raw emotion, while my lyrics are more pop, and we complement each other well."
"Skinn" boasts a number of standout tracks, including hook-laden first single, "Die Dreaming," the equally infectious "Save My Life" and "Playing With Fire," and the propulsive "Vegas Holiday."
"The songs have our familiar driving beat and blend edgy rock guitar riffs with catchy vocal melodies," King said. "We want the music to floor you and the chorus to stick in your head."
Album highlights also include re-recorded versions of pre-Kimmii Heart era songs "Manchester" and "Wingman," which benefit from improved production and more aggressive performances.
"We felt we could do some of the older songs more justice from a standpoint of better recording technology and performing them with Kimmii," King said. "We wanted to give some of our old material new life."
King had played with childhood friends Padula and Valenti in separate bands before the trio came together to form Reality Suite in late 2008.
"Joe and I grew up on and liked a lot of the same bands like the Foo Fighters, Van Halen and Kiss, so when it comes to songwriting, we're usually on the same page," King said. "We influence and complement each other and there are no egos getting in the way.
"Antonio and I, being the rhythm section and knowing each other for so long, it's just an organic feeling of knowing where the other is going," he said. "Overall, the chemistry between the entire band is derived from open minds and mutual respect."
Reality Suite released its debut EP, "Blueprints for Building a Better ___ ," in 2010. A second EP, "Avoiding the Red Light," followed in 2012.
King said the band will market "Skinn," which was released on Reality Suite's own 4K Deep label, to independent record companies and radio stations. He said he is optimistic that "Skinn" will draw a positive response from both veteran Reality Suite fans and new listeners.
"We're extremely proud of the album," King said. "There's no filler. It's very solid all the way through."