Axe to Oak
Faith in Jane
From Grimoire Records Bandcamp page, FAITH IN JANE is described as "Vibrant. Their songs come alive here, in terms of they-play-in-studio-like-on-stage energy - which is both a cliché and true - their duly organic communion with natural elements and in the flourish of the interplay between Mize, Winston and Llewellyn, and the material itself reaps the rewards of the years that have gone into its making." The album contains seven songs.
"Whiskey Mountain Breakdown" is the first; a 10-minute opus. To me, it sounds like some muddy old-school Doom ala BLACK SABBATH with a slight psychedelic edge. When the vocals come in, the sound opens up just a bit, and some Alternative leanings come in along with some emotive melodies. Much of the mid-section is a groovy jam with meaty bass notes. The melodies from the opening vocals return at the end. "She Moved Through the Fair" is a shorter and more concise song. Some of the muddy elements are still there, but the melodies really come through strong. Take a listen to Dan's vocals...they are both powerful and expressive.
"Enter her Light" is another lengthy offering. It's a rough and tumble type of song, with a bit of a groovy edge. As the music comes to life, I picture the concert on a mountain top, with the hazy smoke of fires filling the air, and people just taking in the music on their own terms. All walks of life are here, though most of them have long beards and hand-crafted dresses. "Heavy Drinker" is the kind of song that reminds me of a grey-haired man getting up slowly in the morning, not shaving, putting on his old jeans from the day before, grabbing a flask, and heading to work. If he can't take the edge off, it's going to be a long day.
"How Many Ships Sail in the Forest" is obviously and odd question. The short song is just a free jam on a few riff lines where they band can have some fun. "Axe to Oak" is a smooth song with more melancholy tones and just enough melody so that you can join in. They remind me more of PEARL JAM here than anyone else, though not quite as polished. Maybe it's just Dan's vocals, or perhaps that combined with Brendan's tranquil bass lines. "The Seeker" closes the album. It's a heavy but fun listen, with down-tuned riffs and another strong vocal performance. The riffs are powerful and commanding. Lay back and just take in this sound, with a straw in your teeth and a cool breeze at your back. One note about the album in sum is that Dan Mize puts his all into the vocals. His raspy, high energy voice is one of the strong points on the album, and his raunchy leads fuel much of the sound. Although the production is just a bit swampy, it works for the music. This album has stamina, and presence.
8 / 10
Excellent
Songwriting
Musicianship
Memorability
Production
"Axe to Oak" Track-listing:
1. Whiskey Mountain Breakdown
2. She Moved Through the Fair
3. Enter her Light
4. Heavy Drinker
5. How Many Ships Sail in the Forest
6. Axe to Oak
7. The Seeker
Faith in Jane Lineup:
Dan Mize - Guitar, Vocals
Brendan Winston - Bass
Alex Llewellyn - Drums
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