Soul Blind : " Red Sky Mourning"

The band's sophomore release finds them leaning into the grunge side of things, with a powerful stomp that reflects the Alice In Chains side of the Seattle equation. They employ a taunt Helmet-like punch, and are not as drugged out and depressed in the mood created on the opening song. I appreciate the balls that the guitar is slinging at the groove-centered stomp that drives these songs. However, when they lock into the more Alice In Chains-centric vocals, the originality feels hampered by becoming a tribute band. 

Speaking, they also lean into a Turnstile meets Superheaven-like sonic space, which also feels too familiar on "Mistake to Wonder.". This is tempered with an angry nu-metal vocal for "Billy.". The nu-grunge works better on "For Real" with the modern rock elements balancing out the grunge tendencies. The vocals are smoother on "Thru the Haze" and get the point across without ripping off Alice in Chains. 

The title track finds the band going to the more shoegazing well, one too many times, as they begin to sound like everyone else who has already done this better. "New York Smoke" tries to pick up the intensity to a more Deftones-like level. I like the vocal melodies on this one. The purposeful riff also plays to their favor, but the chorus does not have a hook that really pops. "Closer to You" is a smooth shoe-gazing ballad that hangs in coke-stained bars til the sun comes up. I will give this album a 9, as they at least draw inspiration from legendary sources, so it conjures familiar sounds effectively. Out on Closed Casket Activities. 

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