photo by Soleil Ananda Konkel
Vol. 1 is the impending debut release from transcendental rock unit, SOON. Uniting members of the indie stars The Love Language, Bitter Resolve and Grohg, Vol. 1 is set for release set via Temple Of Torturous March 4th.
In advance of its release, today Under The Radar unveils the first public taste of the record in the form of “See You Soon,’ hailing the “emotional forthrightness we’ve come to expect from [singer/guitarist Stuart] McLamb [The Love Language], but welcomes psychedelic and metal influences into the fold.”
Adds the band of the track, “This is one of our faster songs. It is very much indebted to Kyuss and bands from the Palm Desert scene.”
Sample “See You Soon,” now playing at Under The Radar at THIS LOCATION.
What SOON has manifested with Vol. 1 is dynamic, melodic and adventurous. The Chapel Hill, North Carolina-based quartet pulled from a deep well of influence and experience in crafting its eight-song LP spending a concentrated week of revising and tracking, plus two months of tinkering, at the Greensboro studio Legitimate Business with engineer Kris Hilbert (Torch Runner, Between The Buried And Me, The Body) at the helm.
The result is nothing short of weighty elegance. Drummer Thomas Simpson and bassist Rob Walsh Walsh conjure storms in the low-end, while singer/guitarist Stuart McLamb and guitarist Mark Connor balance mettle and melody, shading these songs with psych-rock textures and melodic finesse. Rather than using their low, slow riffs as dredging sinkholes, deliberate momentum turns meditative–with strong forward pushes devoid of any dead weight. Airy melody and psychedelic flourishes keep these songs nimble and even pop-oriented. The balance of power and grace evokes more triumph than decay, but never sacrifices its grand heft. Standout tracks “We Are On Your Side” and “See You Soon” are bursting affirmations that ride heavy groundswell for a powerful uplift. Eager to push their boundaries, “Mauveine” is a stately dirge that uses sparse acoustic strums and somber strings to showcase McLamb’s rich croon. While “Rise” summons a deep otherworldly drone to form a foundation for a funereal incantation.
SOON is undoubtedly a departure from any of its members’ past efforts, but the band’s casual formation and openness to exploration yields a compelling new entity. SOON‘s enveloping debut is as much a product of deliberate focus as it is the offspring of laid-back jam sessions and weekend cookouts
SOON’s Vol. 1 will see release on CD, LP and digitally. Preorder your copy today at THIS LOCATION.
“… these guys are creating within two growing trends of metal right now that really push the boundaries of the genre – atmospheric and folk metal. SOON plays with those boundaries in their own unique and seductive way… Their music is tight and sexy and glides across cold and mysterious landscapes dotted with ragged peaks and gently rolling valleys.” – doyoumuumuu.com
For SOON coverage contact liz@earsplitcompound.com.
http://www.soonisonyourside.bandcamp.com
http://www.facebook.com/soonisonyourside
http://www.instagram.com/soonisonyourside
http://www.twitter.com/SOON_NC
http://www.templeoftorturous.com
http://www.facebook.com/ToTRecords
http://www.templeoftorturous.bandcamp.com