Amos Slade - Hungry Earth
Alt-rockers Amos Slade, featuring two members of The Spill Canvas (guitarist Dan Underman and bassist Landon Hail) in addition to drummer Phil Mueller, releases their new album Hungry Earth.
The album begins with Sahara, starting subtly before it really kicks in with guitars and drums then exploding for a musical mid riff that really bursts with energy. Down the Map has a catchy guitar riff that keeps the pace going. Haunted opens with a very strong guitar riff and everything is then built on from this. The vocal OH's make the track something to sing along with. Interstates is fairly upbeat, gets the toes tapping and has an impressive guitar solo. Caskets is another upbeat number from beginning to end, making it something you can really lose yourself in and tapping your feet along with.
Alongside the upbeat numbers are those that have quite restrained verses and choruses that pulsate much more rapidly such as Stones, Millions and Lunacy , the latter with a chorus that soars and can be quite memorable. Builder: Burglar opens as a placid track, subtle drumming in the back with the tender pings of guitar, and remains this way for the tracks verses. However, a minute in the strumming and drumming speeds up for the choruses sections. Circles is very similar with a combination of placid and more upbeat moments. Mara is gentle throughout, until the last minute where a little beat is inputted. The track that closes the album is Orphans, a soft tune that leaves a lasting impression.
Amos Slade creates an easy on the ears record, tracks that demonstrate exactly what the band is able to achieve.