When Stone Angels’ debut album, Give in to Temptation, landed in our inbox many years ago, it grabbed my attention because it was the sort of thing I was reviewing all the time back then. It was certainly an album which showed promise and whilst it didn’t offer anything particularly new, it was done well so that it was still immensely enjoyable. Now, after over eight long years, the Brighton quartet are back with a new line-up and a follow-up album.
With a multitude of reasons behind the lengthy gap between albums, which we recently discussed, they’re putting their best foot forward with Up in Smoke. This isn’t simply a step forward and to call it maturity would be a disservice. No, this is a gigantic leap forward. It’s still that grungy-tinged hard rock from 2015 they’re plying but they’re doing it so much better. There’s a newfound self-assurance and a deliberateness to them. This is the sort of album that gets you noticed.
Firing the album into life is “Where the Crows Fly” and once the understated intro is out of the way and the shit-kicking forceful drums make their presence known, we’re flying down the road. Indeed, it’s this song alone which makes you know they’re not messing around on this album. Given everything they’ve been through as a band and how the industry and UK scene has changed, this is essentially their second chance at a first impression and they’re not about to waste it (spoilers: they haven’t).
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It’s followed up with the swift jab of “Gambler”, full of crunching and chugging guitars which interweave with the drums to create a hell of a groove that you’ll involuntarily nod along to. It’s also this early track which shows what a stellar job producer Mike Krompass has done on the entire album as everything is nicely balanced. Bass rumbles and locks in with the drums whilst the explosive guitars and raspy yet muscular vocals rest on top. Everything has its own room to breathe and can be heard, there’s not a single moment across the entire album where one element is buried or trampling over the rest.
“Hold On” is full of bravado and swagger with its swinging drums and chunky riff and becomes a highlight in an album which has no low points to it. Whilst it does have that sense of familiarity to it that other bands have already walked the same path, it’s done here to such a high quality that it feels comforting. Elsewhere, “Supercharged” has an 80s Mötley Crüe feel to it with its sleazy and high-octane guitars and could have easily come straight from the Sunset Strip.
However, the band also know how to drop a gear with its title track, “Ghost of New York” and closing number, “Western Dreams”. Where the title track draws heavily from guitarist James Innes’ own personal experience of losing his home to a fire, the drawling vocals spread over a wistful melody, there’s a hint of a dirge to it. Meanwhile, “Ghost of New York” edges its way into blues territory backed by some grand soundscapes, the bare bones melody for the most part lends a haunting feel to its lamenting tone. It manages to become a touch punchier in its blues-drenched guitar solo before sweeping back to its original position. And the finale of “Western Dreams” might not posit anything new with regards to its lyrical subject of British and US politics being a bit of a shitshow but the final gear drop with hints of keys allow to show a more sophisticated side of the band.
They may not cite Motörhead as a direct influence but the fact there’s only nine tracks and clocks in at the thirty-five minute mark shows they do exactly what Lemmy and co. did: get in, don’t mess around, get out. Which is exactly what each song on Up in Smoke does. Nothing outstays its welcome and when the final track finishes, it’s an album which has gone by in the blink of an eye. Indeed, their grungy tones may still not offer anything groundbreaking but not every album has to. When it’s done well enough like this one, it’s simply not wanted and the quality of the music speaks for itself. The eight-year gap has served them well and if it takes them another eight to make album three measure up to this, then I’ll happily wait.
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Header image by Luke Bateman
Up in Smoke is released on 22nd March
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