Something of a supergroup (although the band would undoubtedly shrug off such a mantle), Sons Of Silver features former members of Pearl Jam, Candlebox, Skillet working alongside esteemed keyboardist and producer Brina Kabler. Introducing themselves with a five-track EP that burns with barely controlled intensity, the band may have laid down Doomsday Noises before the world truly went to hell in a handbasket, but there’s no question that theirs is the soundtrack to the current crisis and if you’re more inclined to defiance than despair, then it’s a record you’ll want to add to your collection.
Kicking off with the Who-meets-the-blues stomp of Rude Awakenings the EP gets off to a strong start, Peter Argyropoulos’s dusty vocal pitched somewhere between Mark Lannegan and Tom Waits as former Pearl Jam drummer Dave Krusen lays down a taut beat behind him. A tidy shuffle that hits fever pitch when Kevin Haaland (Skillet) peels out a heavy-duty solo, Rude Awakenings is well-named, although it’s the crunchy Outbreak that seals the deal. Once again pairing elements of the 90s alt rock movement with the toughest edge of the blues, Sons Of Silver have an impressive knack for imbuing their songs with the catchiest of hooks, and it really is like unearthing some long lost relic from the days when Seattle ruled the airwaves. Changing the pace, the airy Deep Division neatly anchors Kevin’s skittish guitars with Adam Kury’s sanguine bassline. It’s a track that effortlessly grooves, thanks to the easy chemistry between the musicians, whilst the gorgeous melodies of the chorus provide a worthy payoff.
A track that cleaves closely to the sound of Dave’s former employers, Read ‘Em Their Rights was the perfect choice for a single (see video above), with its gritty vocal, shard-glass riffs and hooky chorus. A stand out in an EP packed with stand outs, it feels like the sort of track that would be as comfortable at a grungy festival as it would on the radio, and it sits in the memory long after the EP has spun to a halt. Final track, the depressingly prescient World On Fire meets the looming apocalypse with a dark smile on its face and a bottle of whiskey in its hand. Harking back to the gritty blues of the opening tracks and adding a funky strut, it brings things nicely to a close and leaves the listener wondering how the band will evolve as they head (hopefully) towards a debut full-length effort.
The product of a wide range of influences, Doomsday Noises takes the gritty sound of grunge and throws it in the blender with hints of blues, a touch of funk and a whole lot of attitude. The effect is an EP that feels both familiar and fresh and there’s a sense of excitement within the music that is wholly irresistible. Recalling the soulful glories of the Screaming Trees, Pearl Jam and Mad Season, whilst placing their own slant on proceedings, Sons Of Silver have a bright future ahead if we can hold off the apocalypse for a few years longer. 8.5/10
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