Album Review

Stillman – On Bended Knee EP

• 2nd Nov 2012

On Bended Knee is the new EP from Chaz Craik (aka Stillman). Following on from the well received Eton Mess EP, this one features four new tracks that mix classic and prog rock to create a modern sound. The lyrics are angry and political, the riff heavy guitar is powerful and the overall effect is strong and stirring.

Lead song On Bended Knee has fast vocals backed by some great guitar riffs and the classic and unmistakable sounds of a Hammond organ. It’s about the haves, those with ‘a trust fund and an offshore scam’ and how they expect to be worshiped by the have nots. The chorus makes the point clearly: ‘On bended knee you’ll swear your fealty, roll back the centuries and pay your tithes to me.’ And it does it in style with barely controlled anger feeding into a fine guitar solo.

The other three tracks on this release are good too. Swollen Air starts with a heavy bass sound before settling into a fast rhythm. The vocals are a little less powerful here but the guitar shines. Small Deaths tells of the news overload that leads to a loss of sensitivity to death. The song rises and falls as the vocals come through strongly over fuzzy guitars and some great bass work.

Closing track The Debt starts quietly, with gentle twelve string guitar and soft vocals. But then it bursts into life with more of those great riffs and an instrumental section that will have heavy rock fans pining for days gone by. This one creates a dystopian world where weekends are abolished to tackle austerity, ending with the grim summary, ‘Sundays, we work for the Debt.’

This is a fine EP filled with both quality instrumental work and well crafted songwriting. Stillman is clearly a talented musician as well as a man with a lot to say. And he says it very well.

Venue: On Bended Knee EP
Support Band: Stillman