“My ideas go / Ah-ah-ah-ah / Doo-do-doo-do” – how’s that for a refrain hook? It’s hardly lyrical genius from STONE frontman Fin Energy, however the prime line of ‘My Ideas Go’ – the lead single from their debut LP ‘Concern Life For A Lifetime’ – is each mighty and cathartic, capturing the headfuckery of merely present as a younger grownup in 2024. Proclaiming themselves the “underground voice for the misplaced youth” upon chatting with NME in 2021, such themes are ever-present all through their discography thus far; a foundational precept behind the band.
Hailing from Liverpool, the quartet (accomplished by guitarist Elliot Gil, bassist Sarah Surrage and drummer Alex Smith) have exploded onto the UK stay scene over the previous two years, bulldozing their method by way of tour after tour, from quite a few sold-out headline runs to help slots with the likes of Yungblud, Sam Fender and Inhaler. With high-octane punk tracks like ‘Waste’ and ‘I Let Go’ of their locker, their two ‘Punkadonk’ EPs (2022, 2023) showcased each fury and vulnerability. It’s the latter which they lean in direction of of their debut album ‘Concern Life For A Lifetime’, straying from their earlier balls-to-the-wall strategy.
Produced half the world away in Vermont with Wealthy Costey [HAIM, Biffy Clyro], the LP retains its basic British essence, by way of the mix of Energy’s compelling accent and its sonics: it’s pure Britpop all through ‘Queen’ and ‘Roses’. Although the previous feels prefer it belongs on a DMA’S document, the latter has sufficient lyrical poignancy to chop by way of the layers, with Energy pertaining to the challenges of coming to phrases with your individual psychological well being (“In the present day’s the day I promise I’m gonna change / Ask for assist and I’m handed a razorblade”).
Not utterly ditching the frantic indie-punk, ‘Practice’ and ‘Save Me’ decide up the baton of their early materials, with punchy, poised manufacturing coexisting with the disorientation of the previous: “I swear I’m residing in The Matrix”. Nevertheless, moments in ‘Concern Life For A Lifetime’ discover STONE at their most sombre, as effectively. ‘Lodge’ is beautiful and dreamlike, whereas ‘Save Your self’ is a heartbreaking snapshot into emotions of hysteria and inadequacy: “Get out of my life earlier than I wreck yours.” It’s a titanic, heavy-hitting finish to the album, and proof that the mellow, heartfelt type is one which STONE can certainly execute.
Entrance-loaded with its three singles, the change in fact in ‘Concern Life For A Lifetime’ ensures it closes on a colossus of emotion. Certain to be lapped up by their ever-growing, cult-like younger fanbase, this stellar debut album will solely add to the case that it is a band with heaps of ambition, primed to stage up whereas staying true to their indie-punk roots.
Particulars
- Launch date: July 12, 2024
- Report label: Polydor
