BATHE IN THE FIRE
Temporary
(Peribang Records)
Review by Mike O’Cull, independent music journalist. www.mikeocull.com
Bathe In The Fire is the intensely emotional and hard-rocking solo project of vocalist/songwriter/producer/multi-instrumentalist and Berklee College of Music grad Scott Wells. Wells wraps the spirit of the blues in a blanket of alternative rock sounds and does fine work turning real human angst and despair into hard-hitting art. The eight songs on the new Bathe In The Fire release Temporary show Wells to be a master of his craft who is well able to use his skills to communicate authentic humanity without turning the album into merely a technical showcase. The record is set to see daylight November 8th, 2019 on Peribang Records and will be available on all major streaming platforms.
“I Won’t Give In” opens the album in a powerful way, mixing gritty rock guitars with wailing vocals and a narrative about not allowing the outside world topple the inner game. It’s an attention-getting track that punches above its weight and sets a grinding, hypnotic tone. The title track, “Temporary” values melody over rage but still rocks with authority and teaches a lesson on the “this, too, shall pass” way of looking at life and the world. Wells does wonderful work here and on all the tracks, proving his production and arrangement instincts are absolutely on-target.
A cover of Tonic’s gem “If You Could Only See” comes across well and adds a familiar touchstone amidst all the original songs. “Sloe Gin” is a haunting two minutes of guitar-and-vocal desperation spoken by someone seeking peace but finding only rain and reckoning in its place. It doesn’t last long but is one of the best moments captured on Temporary. Other highlights include “We Were Young” and the Isaac Asimov-inspired “The Last Question.”
Bathe In The Fire makes modern rock music for the thinking person seeking a soundtrack to their own quest for meaning. Temporary is a well-executed and substantial release likely to put Scott Wells in the ears of discerning rock fans everywhere. The music here is uniformly excellent and will make you wish the next album was already in the can.
BATHE IN THE FIRE ON SPOTIFY:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0kJ3lsUkJnzoNmEnHeApFV
PERIBANG RECORDS: