Into the Presence

Album Review

Whenever you hear that longtime Primus drummer Tim Alexander is linked to a new project, it's understandable to assume that it will be loaded with tricky drum bits and lean heavily on the quirky and the funky. But surprisingly, this does not prove to be the case with the self-titled debut by Into the Presence, who specialize in Jeff Buckley-esque rock. And the "Buckley element" can be attributed directly to the group's singer/guitarist, Luis Maldonado. It turns out that Maldonado isn't a complete unknown, however, as he's worked with the likes of Glenn Hughes, John Waite, UFO, and Michael Schenker, among others — and the chap can certainly handle the six-string, as evidenced by such tracks as "The Garden." And he even comes up with some impressively strong hooks, especially on "Broken Words." Quite often reminiscent of fellow Buckley disciples Ours, Into the Presence at the very least show that Tim Alexander can handle other rock styles besides what fans expect to hear from him in Primus, and this album should serve as a formal introduction to Luis Maldonado.