Rating: 7.9/10Sound: 9
Lyrics: 8
Sound/Production Quality: 7
Impression: 8.5
Replay Value: 7
Tilt: 8
Release Date: September 1st, 2007 (initial demos unofficial), official release date TBD
Genre: Alternative, Acidic-Funk, Grunge
Key Tracks: Underneath the Soul, Corkscrew, R.A.M., Summer Without Time, Black Vine, 33 and 6
Seattle, 1981: a band called Green River creates a new style of music. This music was raw, original and pleased crowds all over the state of Washington. This energetic noise rock, infused with layers of distortion, fuzz and feedback effects was the dawn of a new era in rock. This era would shake the 90s to their very core, with some of the greatest bands of our time. This was grunge and, as it died among the Oasis' and Blurs when Kurt Cobain ended his life, it remained in the underground. There, where it almost had a cult following, is where grunge lives and breaths today. There is where The Wandering play.
In a science class where time stood still, The Wandering began. Singer/bassist James Munn and drummer Konstantinos Zaphiropoulos got to talking about music and how they both shared a passion for it. They decided to start a band in James' basement, bringing different musical visions together to make something great. However, it wasn't until the addition of guitarist Henry Guardado that the music really began to flow. The three did a song about cells for a science project before turning to the music of Deep Purple, The James Gang, old school RHCP and Wild Thing (a song covered by so many artists, I still don't know who wrote it).
From there, the band went through some harsh times. To begin, the band realized they had the skills to make their own stuff work and didn't want to be a cover band forever. They went through a phase of trying to make themselves sound like someone else. Also, after a few gigs, James' vocal ability came into question, leading him to step down from the singing position and search for a new lead singer. The group then found Kristof Richard, a new kid in class who shared the music and tenacity the group was founded upon. But this new foundation was not meant to be as Kristof couldn't handle the pressures of the band and dropped out quickly. The band would also take weeks, sometimes months, of hiatus without practice. This, however, would lead to the band discovering who they really were. Henry, James and Konst would separate and return with new outlooks on music each time they broke. They all agreed that the importance of creating music people would enjoy was about more than an all-out assault of rock. They had to chill and when they did, their music soared. James improved his vocal output, Henry and Konst developed their sound and all three combined their efforts to win the Mother Teresa Battle of the Bands and create their first unofficial record.
Now to the music. As a product of the 90s, the Wandering made a record that was exactly that, combining the best sounds alternative music had to offer. It starts with Underneath the Soul, a song I could see Chris Cornell singing any day of the week. The opener entrances the listener with an escalating, masterfully crafted riff, rising like a phoenix into the chorus and exploding into the solo. Even a song with power like this rings through as one that took time to perfect. We then dip into If It Wasn't, the portrait of a guilty conscience. The guys tone it down for this one.
Corkscrew is where we really see the influences in the Wandering. A Chili Peppers-style, bass-driven riff blasts towards a slowed-down chorus. Awesome stuff, not to be missed. Chain Effect comes is the next track and I find it hard to place. The song itself seems kinda bland and low-key when compared to the initial 3. It's not terrible, but I found it kinda dreary after the greatness of Chain Effect. The band then move into the drum solo, R.A.M. To me, this sounds like Zeppelin meets Nirvana, a great combination of old drumming meets new drumming. Konst himself wrote the composition. We then groove on into Summer Without Time, an immortal summer track for the friends that make life worth living. Again, the track tones down, but the lyrics hold everything true.
The journey finally arrives at Black Vine. This is the best track on the album, bar none. It's the Under the Bridge of the Blood Sugar Sex Magik, a passionate rock track of personal exploration. James sings, "I cannot relate to what I said tonight, I cannot relate to my own sacrifice" and you can feel the emotions as he breaks into the chorus. It's almost like a Stone Temple Pilots song in the way it's delivered, but the drum contributes way more power to the mix than anything by STP. Again, you can feel the presence of each instrument and see the contributions they make the the power of the song. Excellent stuff, a single in the making.
Now the Flour Hour approaches its climax: 33 and 6. The song does open with Desperate Reality, an intro rising and falling, but its relevance is really shattered when compared to the second last track. The opening riff immediately reminded me of Bullet the Blue Sky by U2 and the context is relatively the same. The song discusses ignorance, hatred and racism all while unleashing a powerful guitar attack that'll really wake you up in the morning. It's passionate, it's musically brilliant, it's what rock's all about. Huge thumbs up on that one. The EP finally winds down with Sour, a song that musically fits the title. The band doesn't need to say a single word for its message to come across to its listeners. The layering of the guitars in the song's finale fit perfectly into what the Wandering's all about. The song's genuine, opened and, in many ways, much like the band members themselves: completely real.
Every great band has to start somewhere. From the classic basement, to the back shed, to the garage, music comes from the least likely places. The Wandering have taken everything: friendship, love, hate, destruction, construction, everything they possible could and turned it into the music they love. I'm not saying it's perfect, I'm not saying nothing should change and I'm definitely not saying they're the greatest band of all time. What I'm saying is this: they will be something great. James, Konst and Henry have all spent tireless hours building a musical entity that will capture audiences and introduce the ignorant to real music. One thing's for certain: The Wandering are going places.
