Stone Angels – Up In Smoke
Brighton-based grunge rockers Stone Angels – Niall Kersey (vocals), James Innes (guitar), Sam Sayers (bass), Loz Ford (drums) – are one of many bands that have suffered delays due to the recent pandemic.
Proof in delayed point is the band’s independently released second album Up In Smoke; demos for the album were recorded back in 2019, but the ensuing COVID-19 and subsequent lockdowns scuppered any further work across that time-frame.
However said delays allowed for further shaping and working with multi-award winning producer Mike Krompass to "make the best album we possibly can," one that offers more than impacting 2014 debut Give In To Temptation.
'Where The Crows Fly' opens the album with a low-fi intro with effected guitar and vocal parts before the band kicks in with a full-blooded, detuned riff. It’s clear the lineage of the song is in down-tempo grunge but there is a modern twist to the sound and some clever production ideas (particularly on the 'radio tuning' intro and lead vocal).
The song is also given room to breathe with a sparse guitar line during the verse and the vocal weaving in and out. It all makes for a strong start.
'Gambler' has a similarly sparse arrangement but ups the tempo with a chorus in the style of Pearl Jam.
There is an appealing sound effect over the main riff (Loz Ford also makes a telling contribution with some killer drum parts) as well as an effective Beatles-esque Middle 8, which further elevates the song.
Following number 'Hold On' is similarly up-tempo and features Loz Ford driving the beat with a toms-driven drum part. The song also features a simple but effective hook chorus and a feisty, wah wah driven guitar solo that introduces the short breakdown before the band ramp it up again as the number rocks toward a sudden end. An album highlight.
The downtempo title track is based on a house fire experienced by guitarist James Innes.
While a traumatic and deeply troubling experience (leading to a depressive spiral) the song, best described as alt-country discordancy, sits incongruously in the context of the album.
That said, the musical catharsis it offered Innes can’t be underestimated and the sign-off line to his wife is a lovely, poignant touch ("my house went up in smoke… but she is my home").
'Halfway To Nowhere' manages to mix a Southern rock sensibility with grunge via quiet verses and full-on choruses. Interesting as it is, with a string arrangement that primarily follows the main riff, it’s not the strongest song on the album, coming across more experimental that exceptional.
The pedal down power of 'Over The Edge' redeems matters with another up-tempo riff and more of the sparse verses treatment. It also includes a great chorus and a great solo.
The contrasting melancholy of strings-backed ballad 'Ghost Of New York' is a genuinely emotional number that builds towards a guitar solo of some substance. As such it’s another album highlight.
'Supercharged,' as the name suggests, is an up-tempo, out and out grunge-punk rocker.
The chorus isn’t the best but the song is carried on another of the band’s huge riffs and powerhouse drumming.
'Western Dreams,' which closes out the album, is akin to the type of number favoured by Zakk Wylde, with alt-country and downtempo rock influences. The song also features more clever production ideas with some background/ radio chat at the start, mid-section breakdown and finale, where James Innes offers up another great solo.
This is a strong offering from Stone Angels, one that builds confidently and purposely from Give In To Temptation.
There are a couple of misfires and some elements of incongruity, but this is a band most certainly moving in the right direction.
Nelson McFarlane
FabricationsHQ
Proof in delayed point is the band’s independently released second album Up In Smoke; demos for the album were recorded back in 2019, but the ensuing COVID-19 and subsequent lockdowns scuppered any further work across that time-frame.
However said delays allowed for further shaping and working with multi-award winning producer Mike Krompass to "make the best album we possibly can," one that offers more than impacting 2014 debut Give In To Temptation.
'Where The Crows Fly' opens the album with a low-fi intro with effected guitar and vocal parts before the band kicks in with a full-blooded, detuned riff. It’s clear the lineage of the song is in down-tempo grunge but there is a modern twist to the sound and some clever production ideas (particularly on the 'radio tuning' intro and lead vocal).
The song is also given room to breathe with a sparse guitar line during the verse and the vocal weaving in and out. It all makes for a strong start.
'Gambler' has a similarly sparse arrangement but ups the tempo with a chorus in the style of Pearl Jam.
There is an appealing sound effect over the main riff (Loz Ford also makes a telling contribution with some killer drum parts) as well as an effective Beatles-esque Middle 8, which further elevates the song.
Following number 'Hold On' is similarly up-tempo and features Loz Ford driving the beat with a toms-driven drum part. The song also features a simple but effective hook chorus and a feisty, wah wah driven guitar solo that introduces the short breakdown before the band ramp it up again as the number rocks toward a sudden end. An album highlight.
The downtempo title track is based on a house fire experienced by guitarist James Innes.
While a traumatic and deeply troubling experience (leading to a depressive spiral) the song, best described as alt-country discordancy, sits incongruously in the context of the album.
That said, the musical catharsis it offered Innes can’t be underestimated and the sign-off line to his wife is a lovely, poignant touch ("my house went up in smoke… but she is my home").
'Halfway To Nowhere' manages to mix a Southern rock sensibility with grunge via quiet verses and full-on choruses. Interesting as it is, with a string arrangement that primarily follows the main riff, it’s not the strongest song on the album, coming across more experimental that exceptional.
The pedal down power of 'Over The Edge' redeems matters with another up-tempo riff and more of the sparse verses treatment. It also includes a great chorus and a great solo.
The contrasting melancholy of strings-backed ballad 'Ghost Of New York' is a genuinely emotional number that builds towards a guitar solo of some substance. As such it’s another album highlight.
'Supercharged,' as the name suggests, is an up-tempo, out and out grunge-punk rocker.
The chorus isn’t the best but the song is carried on another of the band’s huge riffs and powerhouse drumming.
'Western Dreams,' which closes out the album, is akin to the type of number favoured by Zakk Wylde, with alt-country and downtempo rock influences. The song also features more clever production ideas with some background/ radio chat at the start, mid-section breakdown and finale, where James Innes offers up another great solo.
This is a strong offering from Stone Angels, one that builds confidently and purposely from Give In To Temptation.
There are a couple of misfires and some elements of incongruity, but this is a band most certainly moving in the right direction.
Nelson McFarlane
FabricationsHQ