Treble Down - Treble Down

Treble Down

Treble Down
self-released; 2014

3.4 out of 5

By Ethan Skelton

“Hard times and hard alcohol.” These are words to live by when it comes to Treble Down’s attitude. Clearly, their-hard nosed disposition has provided a great foundation of which to write bad ass rock n roll upon, covering life’s struggles through a no bullshit filter. The five tracks don’t pander to angst or hard style, they just naturally take shape and hit home with powerful vocals and heavy riffs. Their gritty rock is a great palette for such a boisterous female lead. It moves into Heart territory on certain tracks while others are more like your standard early alt rock. 

Either way you slice it, the sound is raw and well produced making it sound unlike a lot of its contemporaries and in more ways than just accessibility. There’s no sugar with this medicine, just straight up chug n’ go tunes to bang your head at. Something tells me these guys like to party, probably living it up like it’s ’85 – I’m all for that. Left to my own devices, I would probably wade in booze and lose my mind in the midst of some rock hazed, bender-laced tour. I don’t know this to be true, but Treble Down just may have done that last night….

Extracurricular aside, this album packs a solid punch and stays focused from the first note to the last. Things kick off with a bang on “Devil At My Door,” a fist in the air anthem for anyone who doesn’t take lies or lines from anybody. The hanging riff that bridges the chorus section is a great musical choice and demands you to move. In the wake of this rocker comes “Keep My Name Out Your Mouth.” It’s a lot like its predecessor, but with even more bar happy sing alongs. The pre chorus cranks up the volume and then falls away for a sweet drum break and pinch harmonics as the vocals give their eulogy, “Fighting fire with fire, gonna smoke you out.” 

Of course, this group is more than just some heart crossed band of rebels and it’s most evident on “How Far We Fall.” The verses are reserved and the guitar finds new perspective in a clean channel before returning to the home run overdrive. As the vocals grow in yearning, the band executes stop times, accenting to the emotion and setting up for a climax complete with some great belting. All in all, Treble Down feels good and flows smoothly with each track keeping the rock high and the fluff low. Let this stuff be the soundtrack to your next house party.

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