SiX By SiX is a new band comprising three hugely accomplished and highly acclaimed musicians from different parts of the globe. Canadian Ian Crichton is the guitar man in prog-pop-rock band Saga and the main driving force behind this new outfit. Bass and vocal duties are handled by an American, Robert Berry, previous of Hush and with Keith Emerson and Carl Palmer in 3 while drum duties are handled by Saxon’s Nigel Glockner who, on this album, gets to spread his wings much further and wider than on any Saxon album.
The band came together after the aforementioned Keith Emerson sadly died which saw Robert Berry, after deciding he wanted to play more guitar oriented music, reach out to Ian Crichton with the idea of putting some music together. They spent a year sending clips and tracks to each other and, when they realised they had something, Berry further reached out to Glockner, whom he knew from their association with Steve Howe’s GTR, and gradually Six by Six came into being. Glockner stated, “Musically we immediately clicked, and working within the framework of a three-piece allows us to branch out in all directions and really push ourselves.”
Push themselves they certainly have, producing a classic mix of the flair of Saga and the power of Saxon. This is an album of very melodic heavy rock, played with high energy with touches of prog involved, even the odd hint of psychedelia. The first complete song they came up with was ‘Yearning To Fly’, a story about wanting to break free, and this is what opens the album.
An explosive intro, an infectious riff and we’re off into what could be one of the best debut albums of 2022. Tracks like ‘Upside Of Down’ and ‘Last Words On Earth’ are almost traditional power rock songs, but played with style and panache, and the proggy influence can be detected in songs like ‘Reasons To Feel Calm Again’ and ‘Casino’. They take a swerve into political comment on the pulsating rocker ‘China’, one of the best tracks on this album, “China, we can see you sneaking up, you’ve got your dirty hands around the throat of the world.” I hope Beijing isn’t on their tour schedule! “Save The Night” closes an exceptionally fine album with all guns blazing and features some great guitar work, a strong melody and driving rhythm, plus a very catchy chorus.
Playing in Six By Six has, according to Crichton, has given him the freedom to be ‘loud and proud,’ and he takes full advantage by focussing on his guitar prowess with some fierce runs up and down the fretboard as, unlike in Saga, there are no keyboards so he can give full rein to his abilities, both on guitar and writing songs with Berry, whose melodic sensitivities and vocals anchor the band. What also stands out is the drumming of Nigel Glockner, after all these years playing classic rock, he’s really a progger at heart? Some of the fills he plays here go beyond anything he plays in his day job.
Whether SiX By SiX is a one-off project or an ongoing band is yet to be determined, given all three play in other bands but, if it’s the latter, this is a truly fine opening statement. As a power trio, they don’t just blast out riffs, they play tunes of varying lengths and power, with thought and precision in their arrangements. Comparisons will inevitably made with other such trios, past or present. The response of SiX By SiX ? ‘Bring it on.’
