EvenBlue have been around since before the turn of the century, favouring the grunge sound made popular in Seattle.
Violet Hue is the band’s first release for 2024, with three more planned to follow.
Starting with the gentle sounds of an open jewellery box singing, the serenity is soon drowned out by a massive guitar riff that builds nicely before pulling back into more of a tempered, swirling holding pattern. That particular breakdown reminds me instantly of Incubus, but when the vocals decide to kick in full of angst, you can definitely hear the influence of bands like Nirvana.
The change-ups are flawless, and the contrasting vocal styles work well, the quitter moments lulling you into a false sense of security before they escalate into a forceful tale of sonic insanity that play off each other nicely.
A guitar solo shreds just after the three-minute mark before dropping back into a sludge/grunge tone that is the perfect range for the vocalist.
I’m not a massive fan of grunge, but when it’s done this well, it goes close to changing my mind…
