Release Date: Jul 7, 2008
Label: Stone Gods
Genres: Rock
Number Of Tracks: 13
The album is incredibly diverse covering all sorts of weird and wonderful genres.
Sound: First things first. Yes, 3/4 of Stone Gods were in the Darkness, but forget it. This new band is completely different. Most people were rather polarized about the Darkness, you either loved them or hated them, and it's fair to say that this probably won't be the case for the Stone Gods. There is no falsetto or cat suits or any other gimmicks for that matter, just pure good old rock and roll. The lads from Stone Gods spent about a year recording and mixing this album and it dam well shows! The sound quality of the album is superb but still manages to maintain that raw feeling that we all love throughout. The album is incredibly diverse covering all sorts of weird and wonderful genres. I think it's genuinly appropriate to say there is something for everyone on this album. there's the heavy metal blasts of Burn the Witch and Knight Of The Living Dead, and then there's the real tear jerker that is Lazy Bones. // 10
Lyrics and Singing: With the departure of falsetto wailing Justin Hawkins, Ritchie Edwards had some rather large shoes to fill, and he hasn't filled them at all, he's completely thrown them out of the window and bought some new shiney shoes instead (excuse the terrible metaphor). Edwards voice brings a completely new feel to this band after the Darkness. I wouldn't really call his voice unique, it's just a rock and roll voice, but it's an incredibly good one at that! The lyrics are also pretty darn good too. I'm led to believe that newbe Toby Mcfarlaine is behind quite a bit of the bands lyrics, and he is doing an excelent job. When the Darkness split, I was very worried about them losing Justins sly British witt in their lyrics, but when I heard this album, to my absolute delight, it's still there and can be seen quite magnificently in tracks such as O Whereo My Beero and Makin' It Hard (no prizes for guessing what that is an innuendo for). // 9
Impression: For any real guitarist, this album is a must have. Each riff is a classic and all the solos are absolutely kick ass. I would say which songs are the best, but it probably wouldn't give a very good indication, because everyone I have spoken to has completely different favourites. I prefer the real rockers like Makin' it Hard and I'm With the Band, but my other mates prefer the heavier ones like Knight of the Living Dead and Defend or Die. There's also something truly magical about Magdelen Street too. From a guitarists point of view, I would have to say the highlight of the album is the guitar solo in Makin' It Hard. It doesn't sound amazingly complex, but it just sounds awesome! The album has truely shown that light can come out of the Darkness. It is incredibly diverse, but all seems to magically flow together with ease. I would recommend it for anyone that liked the Darkness but I'd especially recommend it for anyone that hated the Darkness too! // 10
Silver Spoons And Broken Bones
Reviewed by:
SwampAshSpecial, on june 08, 2009 1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Sound: Well, the first thing I can say is that although 2 (3 at the time of the recording) members of this band may be from the Darkness, this is a completely different beast. They are heavier, darker, and they have lost the catsuits and falsetto voices. This joke has probably been made in one of the other reviews, but I will say it anyway; "Light Truly has Come out of the Darkness!"
Next thing: Although many people consider 'Burn the Witch' to be their best song, and it is the most publicized, I would reccomend that before saying you like/dislike the band, listen to 'You Brought a Knife to a Gunfight', 'Knight of the Living Dead' and 'Defend or Die' as they are, IMO, much better songs. The band take influences from a lot of Classic Rock. They say that Thin Lizzy is a main influence, and although almost every Thin Lizzy fan I know does like it, I cannot really see the resemblance. // 9
Lyrics and Singing: The Lyrics are impressive, I usually dislike bands that literally scream into their mics, but this is more tuneful and melodic. The lyrics make sense most of the time, and in some songs, such as 'Oh Where 'o my Beer'O, are even quite funny! My only criticism is the fact that the lyrics sometimes get a little repetitive and boring, but maybe I am biased, giving that I have listened to this album way too much! // 9
Impression: This is a brilliant album, combining great lyrics, some shredding classic rock inspired solos, guitar riffs that could knock some greats dead, and definitely beat most bands with a similarly sized fan base to theirs. The lyrics sound great in combination with the guitar The best part of the enitre album, however, is that the band are playing what they want to play, not what is popular or what will make them filthy rich. This really comes across in the music, in all it's thick textured, loud glory. You will be itching to learn the songs after hearing the album! All I can say, is buy, turn your volume up to 10, listen for a while, then work them out and post them so I can learn them too! // 10
Silver Spoons And Broken Bones
Reviewed by:
unregistered, on july 21, 2009 0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Sound: I was at first a little skeptical when I was informed that "Stone Gods" were essentially what was left of "The Darkness" after Justin Hawkins left the group. I was initially, in my younger days, a big The Darkness fan, but as I got older, Hawkins' novelty falsetto became old very fast, and by the second album, "One Way Ticket to Hell... And Back!" it became almost irritating.
However, it couldn't be denied that the bands overdriven guitars and their overall Rock 'n Roll sound was something widely missing in the music industry at the time. I was most impressed to learn, when I first heard "Silver Spoons and Broken Bones" that Stone Gods sound was what The Darkness could have been.
An altogether heavier outfit than their previous attempt, Richie Edwards, the former Bassist of The Darkness, took over the mantle of front man from the flamboyant Hawkins, and whilst his voice could be referred to as a generic Rock voice, it adds an new edge to the sound that The Darkness was always lacking.
The role of Lead Guitarist was taken on by Dan Hawkins, always overshadowed by his brother in The Darkness, but his skill is comparable of that of his sibling.
There is much more variety in the guitar parts of Stone Gods. Whilst they still rely on the riff driven sound, there are many different sounds going on throughout the album. For instance, the Caribbean breakdown in "Don't Drink the Water" has an almost ska feel to it, something that the very much glam rock The Darkness would never have gone near. // 9
Lyrics and Singing: As mentioned before, Richie Edwards has a solid, if not overly individual vocal sound, which fits the overall no frills feel of the band. It is encouraging to hear though, that despite the departure of Justin Hawkins, the band has kept the wit that The Darkness very much relied on, but the difference here is that the comedic lyrics are part of an altogether bigger whole.
The lyrics as a whole are refreshingly unpretetnious, and easy to relate to. The entertaining story telling used in songs such as "Don't Drink the Water" and "Wasting Time" contrasts well with the more conventional chorus driven tracks such as "Burn the Witch" and "Start of Something." // 8
Impression: Obviously, when looking at anything produced by Stone Gods or "Hot Leg" (the new band of Justin Hawkins,) it is innevitable that comparisons are going to be drawn with The Darkness. While on some levels this is understandable, it is also a little unfair on Stone Gods when you listen to their record.
They have an altogether more Hard Rock feel, while the obvious The Darkness influences are there, they have clearly moved away from the Glam Rock gimmick that the Darkness was based on.
Don't get me wrong, on certain occassions and for certain moods there is nothing better thatn a bit of The Darkness, but in my opinion, Stone Gods is an altogether more endearing and less irritating beast than the Darkness ever was.
An, in my opinion, very strong debut album from the Stone Gods shows an altogether more bearable future for the British Rock 'n Roll industry. If you came here looking for The Darkness repackaged, you may be a bit dissappointed, but if you were looking for good, witty Hard Rock, this album won't dissappoint. // 8
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