Feel It All Around
Soul Blind understand the value of leaving room around a heavy riff. Feel It All Around uses dense guitars and strong grooves, but the New York band's debut rarely needs to move at full speed to make an impression. The vocals drift above the weight, bringing a softer shape to music that draws from grunge and shoegaze.
Seventh Hell establishes that balance early. Its distorted guitar sound is forceful, while the open rhythm lets the riff make an impact without crowding every space. The band sound comfortable holding a groove in place. That patience gives the heavier parts movement rather than making them feel like a continuous block of noise.
Stuck In A Loop brings more pace and an immediate chorus. The vocal melody stays clear against a less settled guitar part, giving the song a useful tension. Tribe takes the thicker side further. Its large chorus and dense tones show how much force Soul Blind can create without losing the tune inside the guitars.
The singing matters to that balance. It gives the music a vulnerable quality, even when the instruments are at their most imposing. The hooks make these familiar sounds easy to approach, and the guitar effects keep the surface active around them. There is a clear emotional focus beneath the distortion, rather than volume for its own sake.
There are limits to the formula. Several songs settle into a similar dark mood, so their individual shapes can become less distinct across the full sequence. The vocal phrasing is occasionally awkward too. The melodies remain memorable, but a wider range of delivery would help some of the quieter moments carry more weight. Soul Blind are better at shaping this sound than at changing its direction.
That still leaves a worthwhile first album. The playing has control, the hooks are easy to find, and the softer vocal lines make an effective contrast with the guitars. Feel It All Around will appeal most to listeners who enjoy a heavy riff with room for atmosphere. Its strengths come from how well those parts fit together, even when the influences remain close to the surface.
