Who or what is Atomic Opera?

Atomic Opera is infectious. Very heavy, low-end grooves are at the center of what they do. The music is haunting. This isn't your average Metal band, this isn’t an average band in any way, this is deep powerful music.

Breaking with the standard rock cliché’s, AO employs mandolin, dulcimer, bouzouki, harmonica, recorder and ocarina, thanks to Kemper Crabb. Often, bassist Ryan Birsinger plays the Chapman stick. Front man and guitarist Frank Hart also takes some pleasing swipes at the cello and sitar. And there in the back supporting the whole dance is the very capable John Simmons, who pounds out complex drum rhythms with seeming ease.  A very interesting music-scape of sound.

Don’t be mislead, however, AO is definitely hard rock—only much more. They've got the thick, distorted guitars, the power chords; they've got it all (except, of course, Hart can actually sing). But on top of that metal foundation, through careful arrangements and a great sense of harmony, the band breaks out of the genre with beautiful vocal sections. Hart sings with passion (imagine Jeremiah with an ax and microphone), which is quite peculiar because, ironically enough, hard rock might be the only idiom where such powerful lyrics can get any play these days.

Atomic Opera is amazing musicianship, great songs, deep lyrics, satisfying melodic grooves, heavy, dark, light, beautiful and hard rock.