Chicago's hard-hitting rock quartet SOil celebrates over twenty years together with a cover album titled 'Play It Forward', released this Friday 26th August via Cleopatra Records.
I remember the band's debut album 'Scars', and it is unfathomable to believe that came out in 2001. The album produced two massive singles 'Halo' and 'Unreal'. They have managed to amass a devout following since and thought it would be enjoyable to make an album featuring the artists that inspired them on this long journey.
'Play It Forward' is an eleven-track treat with down-tuned editions of tracks by Leadbelly, Motorhead, Halsey, and White Zombie and a tribute to the late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins.
A feisty version of the Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers' classic 'Runnin' Down a Dream', opens this album. Vocalist Ryan McCombs' distinctive raspy voice adds grit to the track with a sped-up tempo and a sizzling solo. It is a good choice to get this album rolling.
'Thunder Kiss '65' is another good selection by the band. The 'White Zombie' hit doesn't sound too much different than the original except SOil has added emphasis on the subtle guitar parts I have never been able to pick up. This makes the song sound more menacing than Rob Zombie growling down the microphone. I am not too familiar with the pop artist Halsey, but 'Nightmare' sounds darker than her version. The song leaves my hairs standing up on my arms.
SOil appears to be enjoying themselves on this release and those added subtleties bring a fresh new life to some of these hits. 'Voices in The Sky' by Motorhead and Prong's 'Snap Your Fingers Snap Your Neck' are more aggressive, whilst Everlast's 'What's It Like' has more poignancy with fuzzy guitars and McComb's hollow howls.
This is not to say all the tracks are perfect, as SOil is primarily a metal band, they are better with heavier numbers. I don't think the band's distinctive sound suits The Ramone's 'I Wanna Be Sedated, whilst the band pay tribute to the Foo Fighters with 'Monkey Wrench.'
An up-tempo edition of Neil Young's 'Rockin' in the Free World' is certainly better than a few covers of the hit out there, whilst the Leadbelly original 'Black Betty' completes this pleasant surprise from Chicago's unsung veterans.
Overall, SOil presents a fun gift for that dedicated fanbase that has followed the band since its inception. This is definitely a better selection of covers I have heard from a band recently.
Words by Anselm Anderson Rating: 8.5/10
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Tracklist
1. Runnin' Down a Dream
2. Thunder Kiss '65
3. Nightmare
4. No Voices in the Sky
5. Snap Your Fingers Snap Your Neck
6. Monkey Wrench
7. What It's Like
8. I Wanna Be Sedated
9. Rockin' In the Free World
10. Unsung
11. Black Betty
Connect with SOiL:
Official Website: www.soiltheband.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soilmusi
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/soiltheband
'Nightmare'
WARNING CONTAINS FLASHING IMAGES
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