SixStopMusic reviews… Varna – ‘This Time It’s Personal’ EP

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April 11, 2013 by sixstopmusic

Set the bar for future pioneers of new music in the land of opportunity……

SixStopMusic – Varna ‘This Time its Personal’ EP

Los Angeles unsigned band Varna (VA), released new EP ‘This Time its Personal’ in late 2012. Citing influences as diverse as Mariah Carey to Slayer, the American band demonstrate exactly why they have been the toast of US and UK Internet Radio since the 2013 release of single ‘Down’.

First up is ‘Down’, a stunning opener making it easy to understand why VA has received so much airplay from it. Commercial pop vocals, mixed with hard edged guitar, taking you on a truly uplifting journey. Think Texas based heavy rock quintet ‘Flyleaf’ song Again, and sprinkle a little Evanescence, and you are immersed in a full blown VA experience. The sound showcases singer Tiana Woods, with the backdrop a perfect contrast to compliment her soaring vocal melodies!

We then fly into ‘Running Away’, introducing the guitar prowess of Rossen Pinkas with some ‘Tom Morello’ like riff-age. The song uses the ’quiet to loud’ effect so well, with Tiana’s voice awesome throughout and taking off in an epic chorus. There certainly is a darker feel to the band in this track and although the song doesn’t reach the heights of ‘Down’, that says more about the quality of VA than the song, as many an unsigned band would class this song as ‘the one’.

The final track is ‘My Heart’, a song that could be their second single. It will sit nicely on the airwaves both sides of the Atlantic as it has the perfect balance to cross-over to the Alternative and Commercial masses. Rossen and drummer Rob Shin are on fire in this track, with drum and guitar bombs dropping each time Tiana hits a note. When bands’ make it they release a song that just looks, feels and acts like they have arrived, this track could be that one for VA.

Varna are the first American band to feature on SixStopMusic and after ’This Time its Personal’, have set the bar for future pioneers of new music in the land of opportunity!