CD Review: Emperors and Elephants - "Devil in the Lake" (Pavement Entertainment)
It takes just one track, opener “Bring It Down,” off of
Emperors and Elephants debut Devil in the
Lake, to see this band’s unabashed promise. The Chicago hard rock merchants
come out of the blocks swinging, and it’s clear this band possesses some
talented axemen, including their newest member, ex-Texas Hippie Coalition
guitarist Randy “The Arsonist” Cooper, which is not to slight fellow slinger Jeph Stiph.
There’s a lot of influence
to be found here – Purple-era Stone
Temple Pilots, Shinedown, Tantric, Full Devil Jacket, the list could go on and
on. Devil in the Lake is an amalgam
of said influences, a true rock record that follows the tried and true blueprint
of balancing healthy doses of towering, swirling guitars unafraid to break out
into a well time solo (“Man of God,” “Locust,” “Who Are You”) with endearing
ballads that break things up a bit (“Your Will,”
“Hit Of Red,” “You And I”). The combination of the brilliant one-two punch of “Man
of God” and “Locust” is the best you’ll hear from a rock band anytime soon. The
inclusion of a cover of Chris Issac’s “Wicked Game” is a curious choice, though
their take on the sultry classic is more than admirable. And to be honest,
there’s nothing wrong with covers. Vocalist Jesse Andrews is a lynchpin; his
vocals equally powerful and passionate, and it seems like everything he is
saying matters in some respect. It’s clear Emperors and Elephants have the
chops to hang in today’s crowded rock game, and it all goes back to promise,
and if Devil in the Lake is nothing
else, it’s damn sure promising.
Grade: B-
Go Download: “Locust”
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