Redefining modern-day grunge.
Italian rockers TSO released their third album, Hellcare, available for followers to enjoy, and there’s no denying the band’s uncanny resemblance to ’90s grunge icons. If listeners didn’t know better, they’d assume this album was recorded at Reciprocal Recording Studio in the ‘80s/early ‘90s, introducing Seattle to a brand new sound. But TSO is reimagining rock, and “Already Knew” is a prime example. This track incorporates a blend of major and minor chords, tapping into a myriad of emotions and calling on grunge-era Soundgarden vibes, both in vocals and instrumentals.
Determined to show devotees just how much vigor and grit the band has up its collective sleeve, “Miss Comprehension” plays on words as much as it does on sounds, offering up plenty of texture and layered instrumentals. There’s the general impression that some of the solo guitar notes shouldn’t work together, but they do, once again tackling, experimenting with, and dominating the fretboard.
As the album continues to unfurl, “Constraint” leaves melody behind and focuses more on the spoken word, conveying art through emotion. It’s angry and aggressive and refuses to pull its punches, but that’s not to say that the song doesn’t ebb and flow, enmeshing melody with distorted power chords at the perfect intervals. It just does so with a ton of aggression.
“Slant” once again offers a sound reminiscent of ’90s grunge, the vocals powerful without being overwhelming. But as perplexing — in a good way – as the album is, “Henry” waltzes itself across the room with a delicate piano interlude that calls on Ray Noble (and his Orchestra) and Al Bowlly’s “Midnight, the Stars and You” before transitioning into another grunge-era number. “Getting So Real” sounds like it could have first appeared on Sub Pop 200, albeit with slightly more melody than bands like Nirvana, Mudhoney, and TAD originally added to the album.
TSO is effortless where ease of listening is concerned, but the band’s obvious talent is on display through and through. Hellcare has something for everyone and works perfectly on repeat or as part of a larger playlist. There are plenty of power chords laced with an undeniable display of melody, making this an album worth listening to.
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