Post by jptheprofessor on Apr 6, 2008 21:47:56 GMT -5
EVELYN’S ASHES – FAR AWAY (no label) Formed in 2005, York-based quintet Evelyn’s Ashes introduces their own slant on melody-geared, hard-hitting rock on their debut CD, Far Away. The group offers a modern hard rock sound that shares some common ground with nationally-known contemporaries like Breaking Benjamin and Nickelback, but takes it in their own distinctive direction. The rhythm battery of drummer Ted Hile and bassist Scott Salisbury, and the ever-busy guitar tandem of Chris Cutshall and Fred Hansen (replaced since the album’s release) set the crunching backdrops for lead singer Wes Myers’ emotive, hard-driving, high-ranging voice. Myers uses that voice to drive home some serious and darker-themed subject matter on the album’s thirteen tracks. “The Innocent” explores the horror of recent school-shooting sprees, while “Rewind” examines the emotional scars of a tragic mistake. The slower “Backdown” references the futility and waste of an idealogical war, while “Through His Eyes” laments a broken home and its long term damage. Evelyn’s Ashes implements their song formula well, using dense chords to set up the melodies, leading to the payoff of strong chorus hooks supplemented by two- and three-part vocal harmonies. The performances are strong and bold, and the group’s production gives weight and sharpness to the mix without sacrificing the overall accessibility of the song material. The abundance of same-key numbers makes the album sound a little redundant in spots. But the attention to melodies and the confident performances work more often than not, making Far Away an overall strong debut that establishes Evelyn’s Ashes’ hard rocking musical turf and knack for edgy, topical lyricism. (The CD can be purchased through the group's website, www.evelynsashes.com.)