 7stbabyControl Album Review
Got Wrong Records
Released January 31, 2014
Genre: Hard Rock, Stoner Rock, GrungeBy
7stbaby is a group hailing from the U.K., delivering an innovative take on hard rock. Straddling genres such as grunge and stoner rock, these guys play a heavy style that takes a step in a different direction from many rock groups, but it still sounds like rock at its core. The album opens up with the track “Behind the Looking Glass,” starting the record off with very lofty guitar notes that change into a very sandy and dark guitar riff. This song is a great representation of what this band has to offer, with odd passages within the song that incorporate dissonance and bold guitar soloing.
The songs that immediately follow this track are disappointing, however. “Somebody’s…” and “Psycho” feel empty and almost haphazard. “Psycho” is reminiscent of nu-metal, leaving a bad taste in the mouth for those who don’t appreciate the style. “Somebody’s…” does a nice job of sounding gruff and unforgiving, but the abrupt whispering section throws the listener off. The rest of the album is much better and serves as a palette cleanser for the two not-so-great tracks. For instance, the lyrics in “Leave Me To Bleed” are great. One example is “I find solace in a scream.” Now, THAT’S dark. The song also has a cool Soundgarden (the band) feel, with odd time signatures that actually serve a purpose. From “Control” to “Pale Horse,” 7stbaby explores many different musical ideas, especially on “Pale Horse.” This is where the band really shines, implementing ethereal vocals with acoustic guitar, sounding very ambient and beautiful. All these different ideas may keep your head spinning, but each song is satisfying. 7stbaby will release their debut on Got Wrong Records in January 2014. Score: (7.2/10) FAV TRACKS: Behind The Looking Glass, Leave Me to Bleed, Pale Horse LEAST FAV TRACKS: Somebody’s …, Psycho |
