If you are a fan of progressive rock then you are going to want to check out the self-titled debut album from Brisbane’s very own The Stranger. Few bands can boast a debut album that sounds as mature as this album do, but then again also only very few have ever delivered an album that is as easy to fall in love with as this album is either.
In some ways The Stranger have really created the perfect prog rock sound over the years and it is all here for everyone to see on this spectacular album. Many young bands in this genre struggle to capture the sound they aspire to when they try to mix-and-match the hard edge of metal with some of the slower rock moments but here The Strangers do it perfectly. Tracks like Solomon’s Son and In The Mire mix genres with complete ease and without any jarring moments, the latter doing it stunningly well as it at times sounds like something like A Perfect Circle would be proud of before then switching to a slower acoustic sound.
The other thing that makes The Stranger stand apart as an album is the amazing vocals of lead singer Tom Frayne. From amazing fast paced vocals turning to growls on The Whip through to Masquerade where he seems to have the voice of an angel (I never thought I would say that while reviewing a metal album) it seems like there is nothing that Frayne can’t pull off with his vocal chords.
If you haven’t already discovered The Stranger then check out this album and add them as ‘one of your finds of 2017.’
