stereo treason - Black Eyed and Blurry

Stereo Treason

Black Eyed and Blurry
self-released; 2014

3.6 out of 5

By Ted Rogen

Stereo Treason started in 2012 by Steven (Red) Rogers and Anthony Wyke and slowly grew into the eclectic five-piece it is today. Both Rogers and Wyke were familiar with hardcore and metal but were not opposed to working with musicians who were from a different background. They started looking for guitarists and eventually drafted Steven Whitney who had a background in blues, jazz, and rock to handle guitar duties. A few months later Ryan Lucas came on board to play bass and last but certainly not least they found their front man Douglas Pack.

Their recent release entitled Black Eyed and Blurry is a solid EP that still has its roots in hardcore but does not feel limited in its scope. The first thing that is noticeable when listening to this EP is the chemistry and undeniable technical talent the band possesses. I was pretty impressed by the cutting jagged riffs of the guitar, the vocal range and foundational bass. That being said the drumming on this EP is on the verge of ridiculous. Some of the subtle and not so subtle things that happen had me backing up the song and making sure I didn’t make it up in my head.

The album kicks off with “Oak Tree,” which doesn't waste much time getting you acclimated with the band. It starts off with a lone guitar that quickly gets bombarded with a steady, heavy kick drum and vocals. The guitars are relatively clean during the verse leaving space for the bass, vocals and drums but once the chorus kicks in the fuzz pedals get stomped on. Overall, it is a pretty solid introduction to the band.

You are not going to want to miss the snare rolls in “Nameless” while “Black Eyed And Blurry” has an undeniable ‘80’s hair metal type vibe. “Back To Life” is a bit of a rollercoaster. Lots of changes structurally and dynamically with this song. They close the EP with arguably the hardest song on the album entitled “The Brink.”

Black Eyed and Blurry has its moments. Not all of it struck a chord with me but it’s undeniable that these guys can rock. I’m pretty convinced they could melt your face off live.

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