Action Reaction
“3 Is the Magic Number”
Hope Division/Equal Vision

Action Reaction is a husband/wife team from my neck of the woods in Northern New Jersey. Bella and Sal, formerly of Element 101, recruited Jason Gleason who was the former frontman of Further Seems Forever for this new project. Action Reaction is a traditional alternative rock band. There’s nothing pop punk or post hardcore whatsoever about this release. Taking a cue from the Smashing Pumpkins and Sunny Day Real Estate, Action Reaction have created a powerful rock record that sounds like it would have be right at home in 1994.

“Sinner’s Algebra” is easily the band’s most accessible track and it starts the album off with a bang. The only problem with “3 is the Magic Number” is that halfway through all the tracks start to bleed together. About halfway through it becomes all too forgettable. The band starts to stick to a mid-tempo, droning, quiet verse/loud chorus formula…which is a shame because the maturity and power of a great rock band is definitely there.

Action Reaction is a good alternative rock band that could be a great one if they had a little bit more energy. I was also hoping that Bella would have sung a little bit more on this release. They reminded me of seminal indie rock band Jejune who put a couple great records out in the late ’90s. If you dug them you’ll be all over this. A good debut nonetheless.