I like to review albums before I know anything about the artist.  I like to have a fresh approach with wide open ears so I never check out any kind of bio before my first listening of an album, and I try not to check out the album cover artwork either. In most cases, the only idea of what I can expect is by the name of the artist… Here we have Terracotta Pigeons. Hmmm… No idea what this could possibly sound like, but I do love surprises and as soon as I pressed play on Terracotta Pigeons new album, Ever Forever Never, I got a big surprise.  My initial reaction was being knocked in the head with a brick; only this brick was a big fat distorted bass line.  Next I hear some crunching guitar, a little feedback for good measure, and then one of the catchiest rhythms that I have heard all year comes in.  A steady head banger of a rhythm, and then the chorus kicks in and it’s on! My adrenaline is fully charged and ready to go now. This first track is an excellent intro, but can the rest of the album hold up to its standards?

Terracotta Pigeons push many musical boundaries within the rock genre and from the very first note; I can all ready tell that they are sincere. I am blasted by a certain honesty that is too much faked in modern music. As I listen to the album I realize that they are also very serious and that they are not here to fuck around. This is some truly head banging material.  Song after song, it never lets down.  Crunching rhythms followed by pounding bass lines wrapped up in juicy guitar solos just pushing through enough to let the vocals take total control and steer the songs straight into your subconscious.  This is music that works on you before you even know it. This is the power of rock and I know what you’re thinking.  If I’ve heard one rock band, than I’ve heard them all.  That may be true, but this is no mere rock band.  From funk undertones to punk attitude, smooth choruses, acoustic guitars, thought provoking lyrics, backing vocals.  This is an album that has it all and comes through shining, despite its somber mood at some moments. 

Ok, now it’s time to research the band a little.  Where exactly are they coming from with this album?

A few minutes into reading into Terracotta Pigeons website and I can’t believe what I have just seen.  This project is only one person?  Steven Smith?  He is the madman behind all of this?  What a shock!  Steven is credited with all instrumentation and production tasks in his studio, amusingly named Muscle Mother Ship.

Now I can see why Ever Forever Never sounds so focused, but I had no idea that it was only one person behind the creation of these tunes.  For touring, Steven grabs a couple of his friends to fulfill a three piece to hit the road. Maybe Terracotta Pigeons will be hitting your town soon.  By the sound of Ever Forever Never, they hit hard. With no remorse!

Reviewed B Kenn Deaton

admin Kenn Deaton, Reviews Ever Forever Never, Terracotta Pigeons