I arrived at The Chance around 10:30. Hyngd was just finishing up their set, and after hearing what I heard, I am sorry that I missed the rest of it as they sounded really good. This is another local act that has been improving by leaps and bounds, definitely keep an eye on them. Anyway, the curtain was lowered and the stage was redressed for the inaugural Stone Devil Hill headlining event. The band plays a brand of straight up hard rock that is hardly groundbreaking, but they back it up with a good sound and a lot of energy. This is a band that is one to watch, the sound is accessible and stands on its own, the sky is the limit.
Stone Devil Hill took the stage at 11:00pm and proceeded to play their entire debut release ..for the fallen, with a surprise or two. I had listened to them in an earlier incarnation, called 8 x 10, that lineup delivered a rock sound that was very much in the same vein as latter day Metallica, they were good, the music was solid, but it was hardly the sound that was going to take them anywhere. This revamped lineup finds them with a new singer, formerly of the band Pillowface, and a new guitar player, a veteran of more death metal stylings. Their influences combined with the remaining members has forged ahead, stepping away from the Metallica sounds and into more original territory.The mix was strong, and all five members were playing as tight as they could, impressive considering that four of them have been battling the flu. Lead singer, Donovan Cavallaro, was sounding great, he was in constant motion, roaming the stage and inciting the crowd to get pumped. Guitarist/vocalist EJ Krebs has definitely grown as a player, now focusing more on his guitar than when he was also lead vocalist for 8 x 10, tearing off some nice solos while also harmonizing well with Donovan. Newcomer Steve Hanson, also on guitar, showed off his skills with soloing, as well as his influence with some of the thrashier elements of their growing sound. Steve Williams lays down the bass groove, also showing growth since the 8 x 10 days, playing some more complex lines and being a more present force. Dan Melious backs them with his maniacal pounding, an emotional and furious drum basher he delivers the backbeat energy that forms the backbone of the band.
During their 70 minute set they put it all out there. They new they had to make an impression. The crowd was primed and ready for the emergence of a new force on the local scene. Again, the music is not groundbreaking, but they play it so well, and while you can hear their influences, it is more than mere homage. Stone Devil Hill plays hard rock by their rules, they are groove based, and the music is definitely catchy, the live setting puts that on display with their high energy. Something to remember, though, is that they are more than loud rock, they have a softer, emotional side that they are not afraid to put on display. They will slow the tempo down with cuts like "20 Years," penned by Dan Melious in tribute to his father, and "This Lie," which adds keyboards to their sound.
The show was definitely eye opening. It has been some time since I have seen them grace the stage, and I had forgotten just how tight they were. This show establishes them immediately as a band on the rise. They even brought a few surprises with them, including a a yet to be completed new track which has a great evil sounding guitar part. For the song "This Lie" they brought up Jim Norton, bass player for Audible Thought, to join them on keyboard (besides being a great bass player, he is equally adept on the keys). Immediately following that, Jim stayed on and they brought up Shane, lead singer for Hyngd, to assist in their cover of a cover, Black Sabbath's "Children of the Grave" which borrowed heavily from the White Zombie version from Nativity in Black. Both of these sounded great, and the cover is a nice surprise to throw into the mix of original tunes.
The show opened and closed with straight up rockers. "Down with the Captain" introduced them to their new fans in impressive fashion. The closing cut was "AFOC" a thrash inflected rocker which is destined to be a crowd pleaser. Basically, the show brought a smile to me face and my fist to the air.
Stone Devil Hill has arrived.
Be sure to check out the bands mentioned here:
http://myspace.com/stonedevilhill
http://myspace.com/audiblethoughtny
http://myspace.com/hyngd
and:
The Chance Theater
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