Southern Rock is a style of music that developed in the deep south of America and born of Classic Rock, Country, and Blues. Though Southern Rock bands are often American, with the music being most common in the deep south, it is not exclusively American as shown by Italy's SMOKEY FINGERS, who especially seem to have like to the country aspect. Following up 2011's "Columbus Way" is "A Promised Land", and it is certainly southern rock, so much so that it is at the point that if you only listened to their music you might think they walked straight out of the deep south from a small city somewhere in Alabama or Mississippi. However, I will preface this by saying this actually works against them in some ways because it is easy to listen and at times feel like it is just another southern rock band. Some songs are good and have an original sound, yet others feel like they take too much inspiration from others, falling to the ever present trap that is the dreaded unoriginal sound. However, as I said some songs really stand out, so this should be heeded on a song by song basis.

The album opens with "Black Madame", and admittedly it gives a poor first impression as this is one of the aforementioned songs that sound uninspired and unoriginal. This especially lies in the guitar riffs and general structuring in the song I feel. The other aspects of the songs, vocals, lyrics, drums, etc, are lukewarm admittedly but the guitars are what kind of spoil this song and are what most make it feel unoriginal. However, the next song contrasts this greatly. "Rattlesnake Trail", by comparison, doesn't conjure the same thoughts. By comparison it is slower, especially in the verses, and it does sound like something you might hear in a western film, but the blending of the rock heavier choruses with the slower verses, as well as a nice and technical solo, relative to the genre, give the song a nice feeling. This sound definitely stands out for me, my only complaint being that it is the second song instead of the opener as switching them might have given a better idea of what the band can do and sound like. However, the song "Damage is Done" falls back into the same rut of sounding uninspired. The solo is decent enough, but the vocals and guitar riffs lack "substance" for lack of a better word. Once it gets to near the end of the song right after the solo the riffs sound different and unique, but shortly after fall back into the same uninspired riff you hear for the majority of the song. Thankfully, it is another instance where the next song contrasts this.

"The Basement" sounds rock heavier, and it also sounds very good. The flow of the song, vocals, the kind of "funkish" riffs, the more varied chorus, everything, all make it a good song. This song does well to set itself apart from other songs, reminiscent of other southern rock songs such as "Mississippi Queen" to help paint a picture. Personally, I think they do the rock heavier southern rock songs well and that it suits them. While "The Basement" had a rock heavier sound, "Stage" arguably has a noticeably heavier blues sound. What I found most enjoyable, though, was the solo in this. It was very well done, technically impressive for the genre, and definitely sounded like more of a throwback to 70s rock than an arguably "too inspired by 70s rock" solo. Yet when it comes back to "Thunderstorm", though the technical work might be some of the most varied on the album in regards to the majority of the song, the song really doesn't flow well. It feels like it tries too many things and like it tries to incorporate too much of every element, creating a song that seems to fall short of the mark. It feels like it is trying to cater too much to every form of Southern Rock fan. Finally, it is worth mentioning is "No More". It is much more of a slower acoustic piece that some might enjoy, and while it is pleasant on the ears it again kind of falls into the trap of sounding uninspired. It doesn't help that it kind of follows the cliche of "start slow and acoustic, ramp up and slowly include electric as time goes on" and that it doesn't really make you want to keep listening and help you to overlook the cliche. Sadly, it just is only somewhat worth mentioning as a song.

Truthfully, while Promised Land has a good song here and there, it overall feels really uninspired, unoriginal, and recycled in regards to other southern rock bands. It feels like they have potential, and maybe they will prove me wrong one day, but for today this album is not something I would highly recommend unless you are a die-hard fan of Southern Rock. I am sure die-hard fans who love some of the classics will like it, but I don't feel like it will be purely for the skill and songwriting and instead will be by the virtue of being southern rock. I wish SMOKEY FINGERS the best of luck in future endeavors and wish them no ill will, but I cannot speak highly of their latest album. I will apologize for the harsh criticism but I will not take it back as it is part of writing reviews.