A Trial That Worked

The psych-folk rockers of Horse Thief just released their second album, Trials and Truths. And through excellent production, killer vocals and some awesome songwriting, the group’s sophomoric effort truly stands out.

Trials and Truths opens with “Another Youth,” which immediately captures the audience’s attention with a funky rock sound that is mixed with lead singer Cameron Neal’s cool vocals. It includes the wistful lyric, “’cause everybody wants another life / another love / another chance.” “Drowsy” is another track that stands out, with its folk-inspired melody and interesting rhythms. Furthermore, the song’s lyrics cover some rather profound topics, as they detail one’s struggles with drug addiction. Another track featuring similarly rousing lyrical themes is  “Mountain Town,” touching upon the memories of a small town and its people: “In a mountain town/ I was swallowing the truth that I can’t back down.”

“Million Dollars” slows down the pace a bit, as it offers a much more acoustic feel than the rest of the album. This more subdued arrangement really gives Neal’s vocals a chance to shine, and they are further strengthened by some powerful lyrics, such as, “if I had a million dollars / well I guess I’d be alright / I’d still have my problems / and then lie awake at night.” “Empire,” on the other hand, shows the band at their most psychedelic, leaving listeners with a distinctive sound when compared to the rest of the album. It also highlights the band’s unique and talented use of varied instrumentation.

Horse Thief have found a way to successfully combine their distinctive musical styles into one complete sound. Through Trials and Truth, this band have proven that, between their strong vocals, melodies and lyrics, they have what it takes to find success within the rock genre.