Peal - Self Titled

Mark

Not blessed, or merciful
Apr 11, 2001
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Sarf Lundin, Innit
Peal - Self Titled
2001
By Mark Bridgeman


Citing influences such as TooL, Faith No More and Janes Addiction, PEAL promised to be a mix of the best in dynamic music - and that they are.
Imagine Alice In Chains crossed with Anathema's melancholic stylings, and there you have the opener of this 3-track EP, 'Back To Life', a slow, soothing track that oozes class and melody. For a self-released EP, this sounds better than some of the major releases which land on my desk, and naturally they sound all the better for it.

'Anton's Symptom', featuring impressive guitar work from Joshua Parrish, and strong, restrained vocals from Michael Conquest that cut through the music while the rhythm section of Joseph Stevenson (bass) and Sean Fuller (drums) keep the groove.

The final track, 'Ugly', is lushness put to music - cool, emotional, and sounding not unlike the best of Toad The Wet Sprocket (no, really!). This final track capsulises the EP into one solid sounding, deep piece of music that stands on its own against most else that's out there in rock land.

If you like your heavy music with a slow, groovy soul, you WILL like Peal!