There are not many artists where one can say “I was there” for their first two live appearances. But that is the case with heavyweight trio Stoneload. Formed in 2021, their debut album, Dead And Buried, has just landed, and it would be most remiss of me not to articulate another milestone in their story.
Stoneload – Dead And Buried
Release Date: Out Now
Words: Sophie James
Hailing from the fertile musical pastures of the West Midlands, Stoneload consist of Scott George on guitar and vocals, Alex Hill on bass and Ryan Palmer on drums. Incidentally Alex is the son of Ian… I’ll let you join the dots.
What they have crafted is a dark, merciless, bludgeoning collection that distorts stoner blues while seasoning with undeniable grunge essences.
The titular opener is a Mach 1 blast that sees Stoneload combine the influential elements of GnR, Sleaze, Grunge, Nu Metal and Thrash, with the lead set to maximum Slash.
Incorporating a frantic but melodic riff, this thrusts along, underpinned by piledriving drums, while the raw vocals veer clear of the abrasive. Ferocious but seductively addictive.
Alive powers along on the back of a gritty catchy riff as the recurring Alice In Chains influence comes to the fore.
The groove of Cheat Death gets under your skin from first hearing while the harmony vocal and melodic structure renders Dark Blue Groove comparatively serene but retains the roots of its forerunners.
Fire commences with a vocal and beat akin to a chain gang before the arrangement vigorously bolsters that cadence.
The frantic Rise And Fall ups the ante as it soars and swoops. The effects utilised bless the guitar with a more voluminous, almost orchestral, effect as Ryan’s intricate pursuant patterns provide an impeccable counterpart.
The grinding Dry Bones offers no respite and possesses one of the most soaring solos on offer, while Tell Me How To Live is a distorted take on the familiar call and response leading to an anthemic chorus. Built on a busy riff, the role of Alex’s bass must not be underestimated, propelling it along in those guitarless passages.
The acoustic guitar and melody give Unbreakable a mid-western slant on their sound. As productive as they have been in the video realm, I consider this would benefit from being visualised.
Equal parts lacerating and ethereal, the pacy guitar of Enemy brackets the darkly impeccable vocal harmony.
After a wonderful studio ‘snippet’, battering drums herald Hollow One as the guitar and bass waltz intricately while the solo section is an exquisitely crafted delight.
Further incising riffage on the Falling Down themed Broken Man leads into a despairing vocal melody that emphasises the decline of the protagonist.
The swinging Dead Man’s Shoes leads into more fireworks from Ryan as his explosive beats combat the equally feverish guitar on Voodoo Woman. Wrecking Ball is a glorious finale, displaying a looser, dashing feel that would close any set in triumph.
Dead And Buried is merciless. The sonic firepower belies the austere instrumentation to produce a sustained assault that steamrollers the listener over the course of its lavish 15 tracks that weigh in at exactly an hour.
So many ingredients have been fused impeccably that should appeal to fans of Alice In Chains, Clutch and Mastodon. The repeated captivating vocal harmonies give it a dark majesty while the rhythm section of Alex and Ryan, who, in perfect synchronicity, elevate their roles from supporting to ones that merit equal attention. Meanwhile Scott gives a dazzling performance between fashioning grinding or intricate riffs and his more expressive flourishes.
Such is the intensity that one ought to invest time and multiple plays in order to unearth the many delicate melodies that lay deep beneath the overwhelming sonicity. A colossal exhibition of a trio punching far above their weight, following in the trails so thunderously blazed by the Experience, Cream and Motörhead.
Dead And Buried is out now and is available on Amazon, Spotify and iTunes. CD and Vinyl options will follow in due course.
Throughout their evolution, the band have been most creative and productive in the video department. Head over to their YouTube Channel to see for yourselves.
Dead And Buried – Tracklisting:
Dead and Buried
Alive
Cheat Death
Dark Blue Groove
Fire
Rise and Fall
Dry Bones
Show Me How To Live
Unbreakable
Enemy
Hollow One
Broken Man
Dead Man’s Shoes
Voodoo Woman
Wrecking Ball
Stoneload are:
Vocals/Guitar – Scott George
Bass – Alex Hill
Drums – Ryan Palmer
