From Los Angeles, California, this four piece band has worked hard to get to where they are today. This here being their third record release, they have received quite a bit of recognition for all their efforts such as being in the "Top 100 Unsigned Bands of 2012" in "Music Connection Magazine".
This band is not your typical "new band, but same sound" kind of band. Instead, they are unique. It's hard to compare them to other bands around because they have their own destinct sound. Banshee Bones just might be the band that true music lovers have been waiting for for a good while now, seeing that many new bands that have been breaking out for the past couple of years have all sounded the same.
This music they make is dark and melodic, yet, vibrant. Like I stated, it's hard to compare them to other bands around, so you'll just have to give them a listen to.
Banshee Bones is Eugene Rice: vocals, Joe Perez: guitar, Salem Romo: bass, and Ryan Rice: drums.
1) Life & Release: This 50 second album opener is basically just an intro; getting you ready for the album; setting the tone. It's a bit eerie with the slow strumming and quivering vocals. It also sounds like it's coming out of a cassette player, a bit scratchy.
2) Dark Depths: Right from the get go, the song pulls you in right away. Very nice start up. Also, at first listen, the singer sounds to me like Rob Thomas from Matchbox 20, but with the guster and spunk of his own voice and angst. The passion in the singers voice and the power of the music itself is quite captivating. You can sense the darkness in this piece. I enjoy the ending minutes very much when Ryan pulls out a polyrhythm and Eugene's voice goes operatic. Very nice!
3) Dead People: The main thing that came to mind when hearing this track is that it has a very Rage Against The Machine-ish feel. From the note patterns on the guitar and bass, and the simple drum beats throughout. Very powerful and gripping song.
4) Hunting Grounds: I like the intro to this song. Straight forward decending riff, the kind that gives off a feel of danger nearby. As the title of this song suggests, along with lyrics such as "No matter where you run, you can't hide", there is danger nearby indeed! Also, on a side note, hearing this song, it also feels as if Eugene has a little Cedric B. Zavala, from The Mars Volta, in his voice (when singing is his lower register like in Noctourniqet).
5) Hello Dear: This is quite a dark-feel song. It just gives off that mood in the beginning through the guitar riffs. Also, the bass riffs are very sweet in this song. Reminds me a tab bit of Flea in the way his fingers move all over the neck. Around 2:17, there's a breakdown where it contains a very nice drum phrase, a neat shuffle between the snare and the hi-hats. One of my favorites tracks on this album.
6) Wolf Like Me: Another heavy-handed track. It talks, as it seems to me, about the troubles of being the "wolf". Whether figurativly or literally, it's obviously hard to get by when the world sees you as the bad guy. "A wolf like me could never fall in love, even if this riding hood was sent from up above".
7) Creep N Crawl: The title to this song describes this song perfectly. It has a creepy, crawly feel, as if something was slithering or trickling your way to haunt you. With an intro like the one here, it just makes your skin crawl; gives you goosebumps. This song also contains a neat guitar solo. Great use of the Wah pedal, if I'm not mistaken. This would be a good song to stick into a suspence film of some kind, just to add effect and chill the audience.
8) Weighed In Gold: A great track here, very smooth, and it shows the real grasp of musicality these guys have. I feel it truely shows during the chorus of this song. Something about the way it was set up or orchistrated. It's really pleasing to the ears the way the notes glide along along with the drum fills that accent those notes. It's just great. Another one of my favorite tracks on this record.
9) Shame On You: This song seems to have it all. The musicality, the vocal superiority, the drum has amazing parts, the entraping and moving riffs. It has hard rock roots, a touch of psychedelics, and operatic singing. A great closing track indeed!
10) Death & Rebirth: This outro seems to be a continuation of the intro of this record. The scratchy background and chilling vocals all in it; also, along with the sounds of a cassette being removed from a cassette player, as it sounds like. Neat exit.
Banshee Bones has great chemistry and musically apt, as this album shows. I enjoyed this record quite a bit and really do look forward to hearing new material in the near future. The only advise I would give (and the more than likely already know this) is, when looking to sign with a record company, to find a label that will want you for your music, not someone who's going to offer you the most money. It's all about the music!
-Cerpin Taxt
http://bansheebones.bandcamp.com/
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