| Musical Style: Metal/Hard Rock | Produced By: |
| Record Label: Independent | Country Of Origin: USA & New Zealand |
| Year Released: 2020 | Artist Website: Evans & Stokes |
| Tracks: 13 | Rating: 85% |
| Running Time: 52:18 |
Independent artists frequently serve as innovation incubators within the music industry, the least of not which being the freedom of artistic expression from not being under a labels thumb. Consider The World Will Burn in this capacity, a multi-national act consisting of vocalist Dale Thompson (New Zealand) and guitarist Alan Zaring (United States) that on the three albums it released between 2016 and 2019 combine a metal and hard rock inclining within a strong modern framework. Standing out equally is Sombre Holiday, at times Gothic and doom like and others progressive on a five album run from 2009 to 2020, and True Strength, raw but powerful non-commercial heavy metal accredited with four albums recorded between 2014 and 2020. If said bands had signed with a label, would they look and sound any different?
Hence, the question as it pertains to Evans & Stokes. Another multi-national act to include a vocalist from New Zealand (Jen Stokes) and United States based guitarist (John Evans), Evans & Stokes traverses Gothic influenced hard rock territory on its 2017 full length (and 85% Angelic Warlord reviewed) debut Beyond The Gates. Sophomore effort Valley Of The Kings (80% review) from 2018 found Evans & Stokes upping heaviness with a straight on metal proclivity, while 2019 third album Children Of God (90%) separates as the groups most varied in continuing with the heavier themes but embracing the darker elements to the debut. Hence, the musical direction to fourth Evans & Stokes full length Diary Of The Damned from December of 2020 to also draw upon a metal basis but not forsaking the groups Gothic roots either.
First vocal piece “Into The Badlands”, album starts to short introductory number “Mortal Agony” made up of narration from Psalm 42:9-10, represents one of its finest. Song begins to offbeat sound effects prior to crawling through its initial verses in chill fashion, not intensifying until rhythm guitar abruptly powers in to incite the precise but roughly hewn (in a positive sense) refrain. The eerie vestiges return at the halfway mark ahead of the storming instrumental moments. Lyric snippet:
The Lord said
“Stand at the crossroads and look;
Ask for the ancient path
Ask where the good way is, and walk in it
And you will find rest…” (Jeremiah 6:16)
Greed! We are lost like the mad men
We! Are running into the Badlands
Ensuing two tracks “Overlord” and “Demon Of The Wood” take a shorter (three and a half minute) upbeat metal form. Former proves combative, relentless and raised by double bass but also decelerates for the bluesy tinctures to its refrain, while latter upholds a similar ferocious quality with added double bass and angst-laden mentality but also abates at key moments. Lone complaint is that despite being quite good both impress as having somewhat of a ‘like feel’.
“Man, Beast, And Creeping Things” elevates bone crushing heaviness further in backing from the all out expedited inclining to its predecessors. Darkly tinctured resonances rise to the surface in the process, revealed in Jen Stokes’ gritty lower register vocals - Diary Of The Damned finds here coming into her own - and harshly driven (almost extreme) backing vocals to layer the foreboding refrain. Lyric snippet:
Just look at our arrogance and vengeance
And our twisted faith
With misguided words of independence
The Lord’s betrayed
Banished all from Eden
Embraced by the rising flood
Justice swift but righteous (I’m drowning)
Cast down by the Holy One (drowning)
“The Sorrow” comes across as a genteel ballad, palatial with its crisp acoustic preference but also staying true to the swarthiness in terms of its perilous disposition. Lone complaint is that at three and a half minutes it is on the truncated side (far as ballads are concerned).
I have no such complaint regarding six minute “Eternal Punishment”. Song starts wistfully to gentle vocal harmonies underlines by piano, not unleashing its full force until guitars begin to propel in and out of the mix, and acquiescing a doom like trudge - noting John Evans’ tight but hulking work - its remaining distance. “Eternal Punishment” might be heavy as it gets but also drips every bit of pulsating melody. What we have is candidate for song of the year. Lyric snippet:
An angel came with chain in hand
To seize the dragon
The serpent bound
For a thousand years
Cast into the void
Where the angel threw him
Then locked and sealed the door
When years have ended
He will be released
To deceive the nations
To gather the deceived
“Army Of The Dead” impresses as Gothic tinged hard rock. Songs darker side manifests in its ominous keyboards and that assertive the imposing guitars to play a plundering role- all the while underlining hooks to draw in at once define the tumultuous scene. The echoing passage two and a half minutes in reflects upon the biting.
“Breath Of Life” opens its first minute to spacey keyboards over wave like guitars. Things accelerate as guitars take a more absolute tone, with the bleak mid-paced impetus lifted by heavy set backing vocals (particularly for the catchy chorus) and sharp bass solo to lead the way instrumentally (albums best stretch of lead guitar to follow). Lyric snippet:
From dust we came
With the breath of life
With the right to choose
Til the day we die
Called to serve with love
And to glory!
With the right to choose
‘Til the day we die
I appreciate the time signatures to “Dawn Descending”. On one hand, it mirrors the fast-paced metal ways to the early Diary Of The Damned material - fierce, implacable and fixated - on the other, at moments notice it transitions to a passage of a surpassing melodic variety. Perhaps it is due to the melody at hand, but this one would make a good candidate for radio play.
“A Child Of Light” approaches from a similar mode with its joining of the resounding and stilly done. In terms of former, verse sections command with full on power and authority; from standpoint of the latter, refrain silently dampens as lush vocal harmonies and keyboards play prevalent roles. Evans contributes another run of impactful lead guitar. Lyric snippet:
Where there is hurt
Let these hands heal
And where evil lurks
Let Your flame consume
Where despair is at home
Let me bring hope
And where darkness grows
Be a Child of Light
Seven and a half minute progressive based “In Dreams” rates with this reviewer’s choice cuts. It begins to atmospheric keyboards that instrumentally lead through the first minute and every bit lithe verses to follow, with guitars punching in at the two-minute mark to command the ascendant refrain home to a hope-based message:
Joy and triumph, in my perfect Zion
Blessed forgetting, still and silent
Peace found in my dreams
Keyboards continue to influence throughout, whether returning in airy form (referencing the graceful mid-point instrumental run) or playing a backing industrial role (without coming across overriding).
Final cut “Deep Calls To Deep” is a piano ballad highlighting Stoke’s raspy but melodic vocal qualities alongside wondrous classical instrumentation. Lyric snippet:
In the day, You are with me
In the night, Your song is my comfort
I pray to you
Oh God of my life
Deep calls to deep
I need you Lord
My deep calls out to Yours
When my soul is down
Deep calls to deep
Diary Of The Damned succeeds laudably in building upon the varied musical focus to predecessor Children Of God. Album checks all the boxes: heavier cuts whether fast or mid-paced, slower Gothic based numbers, well placed ballads and occasional progressive inspirations. Duo of John Evans and Jen Stokes continue to perform at a high level, encompassing skillfully done and unabashed guitar work or fitting lower register vocals. Albums accomplished production serves to highlight either way. If a fan of the previous three albums or any of the styles presented, then you can do no wrong with Diary Of The Damned.
Track Listing: “Mortal Agony” (1:28), “Into The Badlands” (4:12), “Overlord” (3:32), “Demon Of The Wood” (3:25), “Man, Beast, And Creeping Things” (3:24), “The Sorrow” (3:24), “Eternal Punishment” (6:10), “Army Of The Dead” (4:05), “Breath Of Life” (3:56), “Dawn Ascending” (3:27), “A Child Of Light” (3:39), “In Dreams” (7:33), “Deep Calls To Deep” (4:00)
Musicians
Jenny Stokes - Lead Vocals, Lyrics, Piano & Keyboards
John Evans - Guitars, Bass, Drum Tracks & Keyboards
