12 Stones Albums (3)
'Anthem for the Underdog'
Release Date 8/14/2007
Tracks 11
Label Wind-Up
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
The post-grunge quartet -- now adding guitarist and fifth member Justin Rimer -- took time to regroup with their families after relentlessly touring in support of their first two albums. The respite helped the bandmembers return to form just in time to taste the devastation of Hurricane Katrina firsthand. All are natives of the Gulf region, and many witnessed friends and family members cope with the storm's destruction. This, combined with the band's self-proclaimed moniker of being music industry underdogs, fueled the album's title and its undaunted resiliency. The lyrics take you through a journey of loss, betrayal, and the inability to control your surroundings. Songs like "Arms of a Stranger," "World So Cold" and "Lie to Me" tell of unreliable relationships and letdowns. Rimer and co-producer Skidd Mills (Saliva, Skillet, Sister Hazel) kept the album edgy, defined, and certainly loud. Like fellow Wind-Up acts Creed and Evanescence, 12 Stones walk the line between Christian and secular rock. Without overt references to godly subjects, however, Anthem lands more firmly on the secular side of the line. The only setback is a straightforward post-grunge sound that distinguishes itself with little more than glittering guitar work. To that end, the lack of reinvention limits 12 Stones to a tiring yet potent sound that is interchangeable with any number of bands peddling similar alt-metal fare (like labelmates Seether, for starters). ~ Jared Johnson, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
12 Stones' sophomore effort aims to capitalize on the recognition brought by Paul McCoy's memorable chorus cameo in the Evanescence monster hit "Bring Me to Life." It opts for a more powerful, guitar-heavy sound than their 2002 debut, and demands maximum radio-friendly compression from returning producer/mixer Dave Fortman. This approach should make thick-stemmed rockers like "Speak Your Mind" and "Far Away" quite palatable to loud rock audiences, or at least those who want more from the Creed fallout than Alter Bridge. For that's what 12 Stones offers -- urgent post-grunge rockers that follow a distinct and marketable formula. Loud lead riffs balance on introspective verses, which then burst into elegiac and/or bittersweet chorus melodies that get the hands in the arena a-wavin'. Fans of Nickelback and 3 Doors Down should be right at home here in Potter's Field. ~ Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Wind-Up Entertainment struck gold with Creed, and the label has made post-grunge rock its signature sound ever since. The trend continues with this eponymous debut from 12 Stones. The New Orleans natives perfectly combine the melodic intervention of Three Doors Down with a sense of dramatic dynamics right out of Nickelback's bag of tricks. It's all held together by soaring vocals -- akin to a more polished version of (four more stones) Gavin Rossdale -- that will sound oh so perfect coming out of a radio speaker, along with more technical axe-work, particularly in the soloing, than the more commercial fare usually has. When you throw in a solid mix courtesy of producer Jay Baumgardner (Drowning Pool, Papa Roach) that accentuates all of the hit-making potential of tracks such as "Open Your Eyes," lead single "Broken," and the tribal "Soulfire," 12 Stones seems to be a can't-miss prospect from start to finish. ~ Brian O'Neill, All Music Guide
