Western Sand are a four-piece hard rock revival group from
the South of England. Forming in 2008, they have since supported bands such as
Nazareth, Reckless Love and Heaven’s Basement.
Opening track ‘A Place I Call Home’ instantly tells you
exactly what Western Sand are all about: bringing the old-school Southern rock
style of the late 1970s to the present. The overpowering drum beat and
occasional random blues-style guitar solos almost make you feel like you’re in
an American bar swigging back whisky whilst wearing a cowboy hat. It’s rare
that the first song from an EP gives you such a clear indication of what a band
is like, but it’s even rarer that a band manages to transport you somewhere far
away with just their sound.
Unique and hard-hitting guitar riffs are very prominent in
second song ‘Take It Away’. Tyler Hains’ smooth and resonating vocals capture
the old-school rock vibe perfectly, yet he still manages to add his own unique
style to enable Western Sand’s music to sound fresh and full of life.
‘Broken Bones’ has a much slower pace than the previous
songs on the EP, yet it is the one which seems to stand out to the listener the
most. The opening acoustic guitar riff is not only beautiful, it sounds like
it’s full of emotion and passion. The ever-changing pace of the song works
well, especially with the almost melancholy-sounding vocals and tone. The
chorus is both memorable and catchy, allowing it to stay stuck into the
listeners’ head for hours. ‘Broken Bones’ is possibly the best song on the EP,
and the impressive guitar solos really give the song the edge needed to make
Western Sands stand out in a scene full of bands trying to make a name for
themselves.
Final song ‘Welcome To The Badlands’ is a great way to end
the EP: it’s full of strong and exciting riffs and a wide range of vocal
styles. The almost anthem-like nature of the song makes it upbeat and
hard-hitting, just like the presence Western Sand have portrayed on this EP.
For a band that are so young, Western Sand are extremely
talented and they definitely deserve more recognition for their unique twist on
the old-school rock genre. A must-listen
for those who love the Southern rock and roll sound but are bored of listening
to the same artists again and again.
Check out Western Sand here: https://www.facebook.com/westernsand/
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