“South of Eden released The Talk EP at the end of August. The band formed in Columbus, Ohio, and has opened for an array of groups, including Foo Fighters, System of a Down, Puddle of Mudd and Red Sun Rising. Jason Flom signed South of Eden to his label Lava Records, and the band is currently prepping a debut album to be released later this year.”
That’s not the way I usually start reviews. And they aren’t even my words. Who’s words they are is the interesting bit, too. That comes from Rolling Stone Magazine. Add in the fact Jason Flom, who is namechecked above is a Record Exec that was previously Chairman of Atlantic, it becomes clear that South Of Eden have bigger ambitions than many.
It shows in their music too, that ambition is all over “The Talk”. For a debut EP the damn thing swaggers. There’s a bit of “Run To You” early in the title track. Then something happens. Well, two things actually. First Ehab Omran unleashes a roar of tsunami inducing proportions. Then Justin Young kicks off with a solo that would be worthy of Slash.
You know where you are? You’re in the new jungle, baby. You’re going down.
But, if you are, you are getting your funk on. See, South Of Eden aren’t bursting out of Columbus to mess around. So, “Solo” grooves. Crikey. Does it shake its hips!
The interesting thing about SoE is that whatever they do, it sounds huge. Even the ballad-like “Morning Brew”, for all its floating, shimmering harmonies seems to have an innate ability to soar.
And just for good measure, they finish the quartet with something else entirely. There’s a bit of Van Halen in the intro of “Dancing With Fire”, but its given their own stamp. There’s a freshness here that there often isn’t about this type of thing.
Only four songs, maybe. It is, though, four songs that hint at something special for the full length album that is in the works. But also more broadly, a quartet of tunes that might just hint that this is a band that isn’t totally wedded to the “classic rock” formula. Rather, with “The Talk” South of Eden want to create their own buzz.
Rating 8.5/10
