A Stone Cold Fox

Heavy hitting, harshly shredded chords and intensified wailing has never sounded so melodically sweet. Straight from the cold and windy docks of San Francisco, CA, The Stone Foxes have tapped back into the heart of American blues-rock, laced with politicized themes, anguish, and riveting instrumentation. Bears and Bulls, the second studio LP, from the Bay Area quartet engulfs the listener into a myriad of immense sound and power. Percussion that rattles the mind, bass lines that shake the ground, and electrified-guitar riffs that pierce the soul compose this album.

Punchy thumps and a buzzing harmonica fuse as an acoustic medley that makes the opening song, “Stomp,” an irresistible number. “Patience” is a flashback, Led Zeppelin-esque blues jam that allows the instruments to crackle and pop with a steady intensity and topped with crunchy, crisp vocals.

The slow dance ballad of the LP, “Through the Fire,” is punctuated with hints of the 70s and dabbled with speckles of relentless, raw emotion. “The Young Man” is one track that is sure to make you shake, rattle and roll out of your seat and hit the floor. Musically, this is possibly the most fascinating piece that stretches through multiple music genres from the classic blues sounds, funkadelic breaks and alternative-grunge elements. The guitar solo is simply brilliant, and makes the speakers beg for more.

Finally, “Reno” gives somewhat of psychedelic guitar trip, and has a pick-up like a runaway locomotive. This album truly brings listeners back to a time when music was raw and rough, when it was simple yet unique. This group has created an eclectic blend of sonic authenticity and has made a voice for themselves. For a sophomore album, this one is worth the time and well-deserves a listen.