If you want some attitude and real stomp to start an album then look no further than the bruising opener ‘”Wicked Woman’ a song that immediately reminds you of how good these guys have been over the years. Second up the interestingly titled ‘Bed Tundy’ which presumably references the ‘Kerial Siller’ is big and bold with plenty of well used space and menace about it. Whilst third song out of the traps ‘Latex’ completely changes the dynamic and slows things to a melodic sway with a nice building chorus that sits strangely comfortably with the fire that has come before.
‘Rewind’ has a touch of Stone Temple Pilots about it, and maybe a even touch of Collective Soul, it’s a rich song with a gentle embrace that draws you in. ‘Jealousy’ takes us deeper and gets more contemplative, beckoning you further in to the meat of the album with soothing verses and some bite in the repeated refrain. It’s not the way I expected the album to roll after that hard hitting opening but I’m so glad it does. There’s real substance here, real surefootedness and some wonderful music.
‘Make Believe (Interlude)’ is of course just that – less that a minute and a half of gentle acoustic and a searching vocal before the guitar gets all Spanish on us. It’s not really a song that transitions into ‘Darlin’ I Won’t Tell’ which follows. ‘Tell’ however is one of the best here and really captures that effortless Classic Rock aspect of the band which itself has absorbed the 90’s and all the decades before it. It’s wonderful, understated stuff.
‘Do It For the Money’ has a strutting riff that showcases a great soul-heavy vocal, it’s a wonderful hard rocker that really has that balance between post-grunge and classic rock sounds which for me is the huge crossover potential of the band. It’s another real winner made to be played live. ‘Hold Me Down’ though is for me where these guys really connect – a longer extended ballad that has that Southern edge and a wonderful guitar solo. It may be my current favourite here but it’s got some really stuff competition.
‘Cough’ has a little of everything in it from The Foos to STP and AIC, it’s another great moment here; and ‘Stratus Melancholia’ crawls and slithers wonderfully before taking on a real Soundgarden vibe. It’s the most adventurous piece here and sits beautifully. After that half expected them to go for power in the final track, but closer ‘Tail Lights’ goes in the opposite direction. It’s a heart wrenching ballad, a tale of loss and regret and unfolds like flicking through the pages of a book until the emotion rises to the boil. It’s a stunning way to take us out.
If you loved the last EP ‘Static’ and the ‘Under the Sun’ album that preceded it, you’ll love this. More excellent hard rock from Texas’ finest.
8/10
