Continua is the brainchild of Cincinnati based dark wave singer Bishop Battle, guitarist/songwriter Jason Mulkey, and Brian Buckalew (from Day of Awakening). They are joined by lead guitarist Joey Gilbert (of Maiden Cane) and drummer Troy Parrish. Spread out across Ohio, Georgia and Florida, Continua is not restricted by geography.
Together, this crew of highly talented song crafters delivers potent, infectious rock music that hovers on the spectrum somewhere between the emotional authenticity of alternative rock, the grittiness of grunge, the power of pop and hints of glam rock that give this collection of songs a larger than life, arena-sized sound.
From the moment I clicked play on Flagship, it became immediately obvious I was listening to true professionals who have mastered their craft and continue to master it, as true masters do.
Melodically rich, highly infectious, emotionally potent and undeniably powerful, Continua‘s sound had me hooked from the first notes.
The snare hits leading into the soaring lead guitar of track 1, The Darkest City, pulls the listener in as the song builds into memorable guitar licks matched by a potent hook you’ll keep singing or humming long after this EP ends.
The beautiful sounding thump of the bass leads us into track 2. Fluorescent delivers a powerfully pop aesthetic with an easily memorable hook that needs to be spinning on pop rock radio playlists (if it isn’t already). This is a strong song with all the elements of a charting single.
Slowing it down for track 3, Simple Plan, we are greeted with a darker, more somber guitar melody. As the track builds into an impactful, ballad-esque hook, I am once again reminded of the difference between the average band and a group of musicians who know how to create great songs.
As we enter the soundscape of Echoes, we are greeted with a melancholic piano which leads us through a cinematic, theatrical tapestry of haunting strings, dissonant acoustic guitar strums, and a vocal performance that drives the emotional intensity of this track over the edge.
Tapping into their more organic, acoustic-driven, balladeer roots, Continua sets the mood for a stadium full of lighters (or cell phone flashlights) swaying side to side in rhythm to Always Tomorrow. There’s always tomorrow! And there’s always another great song waiting to be heard from Continua.
Wrapping up the Flagship project, we jump into the driving rhythm of Daybreak. This song is driven by a finely woven sonic tapestry of electric guitar riffs, hard hitting drums, soaring lead guitar lines, and a vocal performance that manipulates the ebb and flow of the listener’s emotional strings with precision. As the energy of the song crescendos and then fades to silence, I am left waiting for more.
Until then, I’ll just enjoy repeat listens of the EP!
Listen to Flagship on your favorite streaming platform.
Connect with Continua on their official website.
