The Deal: Mid-90s band regroups in 2007, records new album, Bothered, released independently on May 30, 2009.
The Good: The album opens up with “Bless Me,” immediately showcasing a heavy influence from Alice in Chains that’s evident throughout the album’s 10 tracks. The band keeps lyrics simple while showcasing a variety of music styles from slow-chugging grunge to a more groove-oriented metal. The layered vocals give the songs depth and can, at times, almost sound haunting.
The Bad: While the band is offering up a brand of grunge and ’90s style of rock that isn’t heard much on the musical landscape these days, it can also come across as sounding dated at times.
The Verdict: If someone told me about an Alice in Chains cover band that started to write and record its own music, this is what I would predict them to sound like. It’s not to call them copy-cats – Bother has created something original via that inspiration.
This article appears in Jun 30 – Jul 7, 2009.
