Sparrow Falls - A Brimstone Harvest

Ring Of Fire Records

 

I’m sure some of you will remember Banner Of Thugs, a Dutch Oi! band from the early 2000’s that released a solid debut in the form of “First Feat Of Arms”, but really hit it off with the technically far superior sophomore album “What We Hold Dear”. Unfortunately Banner Of Thugs is no more, but when one band splits up new, and hopefully better, bands get formed. This is exactly what vocalist Merijn did when his ‘banner of thugs’ folded up in 2005, form Sparrow Falls to create a fresh new sound with the 2010 debut album “Tides” as a result. “Tides” was followed up by the six-track 12-inch EP “Maelstrom” in 2013 and now in 2015 it’s time for Sparrow Fall’s sophomore album, “A Brimstome Harvest”.

 

 

Although you could already hear the musical progression and the maturing of sound in Banner Of Thugs’ last album, Sparrow Falls’ music hardly has anything to do with Merijn’s old band, besides the obvious, his significant vocals. Sparrow Falls experiments with a sound that holds a thin line between punk rock, indie rock and small hints of folk and Americana. If I had to compare Sparrow Falls with other bands I would describe this Dutch band as a mix between Dim’s Rebellion, I Walk The Line, The Gaslight Anthem and Hot Water Music, but in the end this sextet really holds a sound on their own. With deep, storytelling lyrics, harmonious choruses, strong melodies, a member of the band on the organ/keyboard (hence the reference to our Scandinavian friends of DR and IWTL) and the usage of the occasional oddball instrument such as a banjo (“A Brimstone Harvest”, “Wrong Eyed Jesus In The Trunk”, done by Ed who was one of the guitarists in Banner Of Thugs), or a complete brass section (“Harlequin”), make this band so unique, especially in their fatherland, and is what makes “A Brimstone Harvest” sound so incredibly great!

 

I was excited when I found out Sparrow Falls was working on a new record and now that I have heard it, my excitement increases with every spin of “A Brimstone Harvest”! It’s something different, and something that most likely cannot be appreciated by all my readers, but still. Every piece seems to fall in the right place on this album, from the incredible song writing to the artwork to the production by Igor (Backfire!, Angel Crew), who is responsible to bring the unique wall of sound Sparrow Falls creates to your home stereo. Now let’s hope this band won’t fall apart after its second full-length… A must-hear if you are into any combination of bands mentioned in the second paragraph of this review!