Heavier Than A Stone. The Hornets

Some more good old rock and roll sweeping up all the dregs that artists from the 1950s onwards left behind or had no use for and turn it into a great concoction of early-mid 21 century rock and roll. The Hornets are at ease with it all and present the world with joyous rock record.

Formed in the nice city of Modena in Italy in 2016, The Hornets have been releasing singles since. Until 2021 sees the release of Heavier Than A Stone. Knowing Modena, it has a huge, ancient stone placed in the city square, The Hornets deliver a huge promise to be heavier than a stone. I'm no weightlifter, so I can't tell you who wins, what I do know is that I was pleasantly surprised, both by the Medieval city centre and the record.

Promo photo

On Heavier Than A Stone it all seems to come together for The Hornets. It is impossible to call the band original, you can call it good at what it does. The influences shine through in most of the songs. The rhythm section, Alberto Francia, bass and Andrea Rovituso, drums is super tight. The drums are mixed in prominently, so are really propping up the music. The bass follows tightly, supporting the drums, both plugging and using the space that remains open. The guitars have that sound great rock songs have, while leads are always to the point and never beyond supporting a song to rock some more. Well, I'll get back to that later. Stefano Francia and Giovanni Artioli really lay it down. The three holding a guitar all sing as well.

At the end only in 'Rockstar's Syndrome' and 'Not So Easy' the guitars go out on a Lynyrd Skynyrd kind of outing, but not for five or more minutes. Most other songs are in the style of The Rolling Stones, The Faces, The Black Crowes, Aerosmith and the shorter rock songs of Guns 'N' Roses. In short the best the world has heard in the past decades in rock. If this is not enough for a nudge to go and listen, I don't know what else will.

Wout de Natris

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