A.D.A.M. Music Project Releases New Album ‘Knocked Down’

Rock music inspired by video games.

A.D.A.M. Music Project | Photo Courtesy of A.D.A.M. Music Project

A.D.A.M. Music Project, aka AMP, releases their brand-new long player, Knocked Down. Inspired by the classic 1982 Atari Game Pitfall!, the album's dozen tracks deliver an adrenaline-fueled punch of hard rock and alt-metal.

Founded by Adam DeGraide, AMP is built on the idea that collaboration is one of the greatest ways to create music. Teaming up with Dameon Aranda on the project, the pair co-write and co-produce. A rotating cast of elite musicians and vocalists supply the musical accouterment.

DeGraide depicts A.D.A.M. Music Project as the “Kool & The Gang of hard rock.”

Some of the major contributors to AMP include Adam DeGraide (music director, guitar, bass, keys, programmer, arranger, lead vocals), Dameon Aranda (lead vocals, guitar), Gabe Aranda, Lacy Saunders, Macie Cantrell, Hartleigh Buwick, Myra Beasley, Joel Driskell, and Adam Aguilar all on lead vocals, along with Jay Gleason and Eric Gillette on lead guitar, Neil DeGraide from Dirt Poor Robins, on lead guitar, and Jeff Hall on drums.

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Knocked Down follows on the heels of last year’s Punch Out, an album celebrating video game heroes via tracks such as “Black Heart” (Diablo), “Two Worlds” (Sonic’s Shadow), “Take Until They Break” (Team Rocket from Pokémon), “Killing Machine” (Apex Legend’s Pathfinder), and “Killer Bee” (Cammy from Street Fighter).

The album’s title track, a tribute Mike Tyson’s Punch Out!!, hit Billboard’s Top 40 Mainstream Rock chart, establishing AMP as one of rock’s premier bands.

From a purely subjective viewpoint, entry points on Knocked Down include the title track, opening on walloping percussion highlighted by a fat thumping kick drum. Dark, growling guitars lay down a thick melody as nuanced vocals range from potent, soaring tones to soft whispers. A brief, dazzling guitar solo sets the harmonics on fire.

A.D.A.M. Music Project — ‘Knocked Down’ Cover Art

The alt-metal muscularity of “Fame” immediately intimidates with its heavy guitars and intense vocals. Gang-like harmonies give the tune dense depth and dimension.

Rife with hints of blues rock, “Sunlight” features rumbling drums, grinding guitars, and a darker feel. The drumming on this track deserves special attention — grand fills and rounded tones that flatten out.

“Broken” slows things down. An elegant piano topped by poignant strings offers listeners an array of emotional colors. Slightly rasping vocals imbue the lyrics with an aching longing for rescue from a heart battered and in pain.

A.D.A.M. Music Project | Photo Courtesy of A.D.A.M. Music Project

A personal favorite because of the wonderfully strong female vocalist, “They Are Here” travels on a deliciously pungent alt-metal melody. A slicing, burning guitar takes over on the solo section, followed by a transition to crushing guitars on the outro. There is beaucoup crème de la crème double-bass on this song.

The funk-lite rock of “Don’t Be Leeroy” closes the album. Tight, skiffing guitars and brass accents support the female vocalist. There’s an edge to her voice that makes it tough yet alluring.

Brimming with the urgency and ardor of the gamer soundtrack aesthetic, Knocked Down is an unmissable entry in today’s zeitgeist.

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