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Rating: Compared to other groups that emerged around the same time, such as Evanescence, 12 Stones have remained relatively unknown, especially in Europe. This excellent band has, in fact, achieved extraordinary and well-deserved success in the United States, where they have been popular since the days of "Let Go", one of the soundtracks of the movie Daredevil (alongside the more famous "Bring Me To Life" and "My Immortal" by Evanescence), and subsequently with their self-titled first album released in 2002, alongside Evanescence's Fallen (and also under their same record label, Wind-up). Their second album, Potter's Field, represents the temporary arrival of an impressive artistic maturation that was already demonstrated with their previous tracks and that, we hope, will be further surpassed by their third work in production.
Now, let's move on to the analysis of the band and this excellent work. It seems that the intention was to make their Christian rock even more impactful than that of the previous album, highlighting the skill of individual musicians, such as guitarist Eric Weaver who gifts us with splendid initial riffs and excellent solos, or drummer Aaron Gainer, who fulfills an excellent role in filling out the group's sound, also using the double pedal, which was somewhat missing in the first album; bassist Kevin Dorr also works very well with Gainer regarding the rhythm line of the tracks. Finally, Paul McCoy did not disappoint; his warm and charismatic voice seems slightly more prominent over the guitar compared to the first album, and the singer's typical harsh and hoarse peaks are more moderated and inserted at the right points.
"Speak Your Mind", the excellent opening track of Potter's Field, immediately explains the musical line that the band will follow: a harsh and subdued initial riff that opens into an impressive entrance by the entire group (dominated by Gainer), quickly followed by the verse sung over the same riff of the intro. The track takes a break with a melodic and pleasant chorus before returning to the initial tones. Very beautiful and catchy, as well as indicative of good technique, is the solo which, as tradition demands, comes after the second chorus. Great idea of the rest pause before the variation and the end, played only by bass and drums. Finally, a crescendo variation, culminating with McCoy's scream and a finale that is overall quieter than expected. The flaw of the second track, "The Last Song", is that it seems less inspired than the first track, but especially that in general it is very, perhaps too similar in arrangement, except for small differences; even in this case, the tones are rather harsh. "Far Away", however, presents itself as novel in terms of arrangement, as, excluding the intro, the drums take lead from the beginning with a good tom run, and the verse is sung with almost no guitar presence. The track resumes the classic line with the chorus, but the drum pattern returns throughout the song. A pity for the lack of a true guitar solo because the track at some point seems to be just waiting for it and the arrangement seems to stifle Weaver's creativity in coming up with one. In any case, the ending with the scream and Gainer continuing to dominate the line of the piece is nice.
"Shadows" is a classic rock track with a traditional arrangement. However, it is very well played and also catchy. The same goes for "Lifeless", the fifth track; but here, not only here, the idea of drum segments played with the hi-hat on the upbeat is excellent, giving the impression of never being too banal. Tracks like "Bitter", "Three Leaf Loser", and "Waiting For Yesterday" don't bring anything new to the album's economy and, although well-played, merely follow the pattern of the first tracks. "Photograph", "Stay", and "In Closing" (the last track of the album) present themselves instead as tracks for relaxation. Calm guitar from the start and little distortion, returning to relaxing and perhaps slightly banal tones.
My initial comparisons with the band Evanescence, which I consider technically and musically inferior to 12 Stones, aim to understand why so many good bands often remain in the shadows here, while so many others that are promoted by major music information channels obviously become worshipped by the masses. In any case, I hope that their third work is even more complete and mature and also achieves greater success here in Europe. The highest rating is not reached only due to a lack of full originality, which however, we all know, becomes more difficult to achieve with each passing day and with each single song that is composed.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
05 Lifeless (03:42)
Desperate and waiting, frozen to the core, numb
To this feeling, needing something more all i
Keep thinking is where i need to be, all i can hope
For is someone to take me away
Before you go you promise me something, i need
To know will you leave me lifeless leaving me
Lifeless
Will i bow down to this life that i live, will i find
Freedom or lose it all again all i keep thinking is
Where i need to be, all i can hope for is someone
To take me away
Before you go you promise me something, i need
To know will you leave me lifeless time moves so
Slow, i'm waiting for something, waiting for
Something again
Will i fall away from you, feelings that i never
Knew and i hope that i never fall away
06 Bitter (03:34)
Mother Mother
Can you hear me
I keep trying
Just to find me
All I know now
All you show me
Endless questions
Hopeless ending
This bitter pill is pushing me away
And now I feel like there's nothing left to say
And I pretend to look the other way
But in the end will I be okay
Will I be okay
Father Father
Will you be here as I cry out silent again
Turning colder, frozen deeper
Numb to this dream sleeping within
Before I face another day
Won't you let asleep
Lost among the dreams that always comfort me
And before I find my feet
Won't you show me what I need
What I need to walk again
07 Photograph (03:58)
Fear falls a lot like rain again
Washing over me
You say nothing will ever change
What do I believe
You fall deep inside again
There's nothing left to see
Weakness fills your heart again
You put it to rest
Forfeit everything cause
You were never strong enough
Close my eyes again
Pray that I will not give up
I try to see your face again
A photograph of me
Your voice calling out again
Nothing left for me
You try to find your place again
Waiting just to breathe
We mistake your heart again
You put it to rest
Locked inside again
Locked inside again
Locked inside again
Forfeit everything cause
You were never strong enough
Close my eyes again
Pray that I will not give up
Forfeit everything
You were never strong enough
Close my eyes again
Pray that I will not give up
Did you
Forget about the things I said
Fight the lies inside your head
Deny those who try to bring you down
Kill the pain and emptyness
Find the love and lose yourself
But life is like your just a memory
Locked inside again
Locked inside again
Locked inside again
Forfeit everything
You were never strong enough
Close my eyes again
Pray that I will not give up
Hoping everything
You were never strong enough
Close my eyes again
Pray that I will not give up....
08 3 Leaf Loser (04:37)
Biting the hand that feeds you, lying to the voice
Inside, reach out to beg for something this life
Is a lesson, take what you're given feeding on
Self destruction, waiting to explode again, no
Sign of resolution this life is a lesson, take what
You're given
You don't need direction to find your way, don't
You listen to yourself now and again killing
Time, killing you mind over matter, stop and
Listen to yourself now
Bend me before i breakdown, dying to be free
Within, it's not how you'd like to see it this life
Is a lesson, take what you're given forcing your
Self solution as you fall into line again, when
Will i find the answers this life is a lesson, take
What you're given
Falling to the ground, left face down as i recall
The mirrors ugly glare
11 In Closing (03:59)
Step back inside the lie again, you'll find you're
Wearing thin
Killing the sympathy as you take another swing
At me now
Fighting your inner self again, losing what
You feel
Shielded behind the lies that make you feel real
Now
It's over and i don't feel a thing but you're
Trying to break the scar again your spirit is
Bleeding as you grin but your bridge keeps on
Burning at both ends
In your mind, the ending seems to be so far from
What you need
Take back the memories as you smile to hide the
Pain from me now
Shut down the curiosity that brings you here
Again
No sense of purity as you try to take the life
From me now
Nothing that you ever say could ever possibly
Erase
All the hateful things you did and now i'm
Through with you nothing you could ever say
Nothing you could ever say
Hope you're happy now
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