Review Summary: An impressive release, but sadly, it doesn't offer anything that we haven't already heard before.
There is an alluring quality within the musical content in
Of Sand And Stone. The music is flourishing with a sense of exuberance, induced by melodic textures that favor a more optimistic tone. Immediately as
"Cardinal Sun" begins, the music erupts with the sounds of roaring guitars and hard hitting drums. And even Michael Pogson's voice manages to seduce our enthusiasm with his passionate cries that are decorated with an infectiously catchy melody. But as we descend further and further into Of Sand And Stone, we find that the music expresses itself more like a reflection of Drawing North's influences than something original.
Songs like
"Cardinal Sun" and
"Forgotten Rooms" embrace us with a familiar sound. The music is certainly driven by an intense release of aggression, but yet there is this undeniable sense of emotive melodic delicacy that seems to coat all of this energy- a musical approach that has already been explored by acts like Saosin and Anberlin, as well as several other musical acts in the Indie scene. But don't get me wrong, Drawing North have certainly composed an impressive set of songs in Of Sand And Stone, but sadly they don't really offer anything that we haven't heard before from similar acts. Perhaps what makes
"Harbour" such a captivating piece is because it deviates from the typical rock sound of the other songs.
"Harbour" experiments with various musical landscapes, embracing us with a gentle, almost dream-like ambience in the beginning before elevating into a more powerful delivery in its conclusion.
As I said, Of Sand And Stone contains some very entertaining content, and at times even providing some truly mesmerizing melodies. With time, as Drawing North continue to explore the possibilities of their artistic potential and work to develop a unique sound that will distinguish themselves from their contemporaries, we may see this band evolve into something truly worthwhile. This is certainly a talented group, it can be easily perceived with every note played by the instruments and every word uttered by the vocalist. But as of right now, Of Sand And Stone is merely a stepping stone into the discovery of their role in today's music.
