Here at York Calling, we’re always on the lookout for music that manages to strike a genuine chord with our audience – regardless of genre. Hailing from Laramie, Wyoming, Soul Rash is a powerhouse collective of seasoned pro
musicians who’ve channeled decades of experience into their most ambitious work yet – Trilogy. The record was largely recorded at Timber Canyon Studios, featuring 13 sprawling tracks that act as a passionate love letter to rock and roll.
It’s clear from the very start that Soul Rash have what it takes to beat the rest, crafting an immersive collection of rock and roll tunes with more than a hint of metal thrown in for good measure. If that sounds good to you, then Trilogy is an album that you need to listen to.
Trilogy starts out as it means to go on with opener Divided We Stand, setting the tone right out of the gate. The track is heavy from the start, featuring monstrous riffs and some cool guitar solos, acting as a real call to arms for those into their rock and metal music. Next up comes Perfect Time, which slows the pace down to allow the main melody to breathe perfectly, adding a prog-metal vibe to the tune. It’s a pretty melodic song and you can really feel the emotion in the lyrics, as the layered guitars add to the eerie atmosphere.
Trilogy could be considered to be the titular centerpiece of the album, and it really deserves all the glory that title bestows upon it. It’s another slower song, full of piano chords and acoustic guitars, taking the listener on an expansive journey throughout. Drink With The Devil is a little heavier in parts, instead adding a blues-infused grit to proceedings, having a proper rock and roll swagger to it. The organ is a real joy to behold in the background, as is the epic guitar solo towards the end.
Goodbye is one of the most emotionally charged moments on the album, starting out with a selection of pretty fingerpicked acoustic guitar notes to as it leans into atmospheric ballad territory. The vocals are also raw and impassioned, building up slowly over the course of the song to create a dramatic finish. Whiskey Town ramps the tempo and the tension right back up again, starting with some atmospheric backing noises and a steady drum beat. It’s got a proper southern-rock tinge to it, with a driving rhythm that will get inside your head within no time.
Next we move on to Soul To Keep, which is another killer tune anchored by a tight rhythm section. The groovy guitars roll on in a steady way, with Soul Rash using the interplay between the rhythm and lead guitars in a really cool way, sounding really unique! Fooled You Once is another absolute banger of a rock song, having a catchy main riff that is full of attitude. It’s actually got a little more of a classic rock sound to it, showing that Soul Rash is one band that can work within multiple rock and metal genres.
Breeze really lives up to its name, taking the record back towards a lighter form of folk-rock. Whilst the tempo and licks do kick back in later on, the track acts as a welcome breath of fresh air, adding a slightly lighter sound to the record. I Wouldn’t If I Were You may be a curiously titled song, but it’s also one of the catchiest tracks on Trilogy, featuring a lead guitar riff that just doesn’t quit. It’s one of the shortest tracks on the album too, but it hits fast with a selection of driving riffs and a catchy chorus.
Hold Out Your Hand is up next, dropping down into more of an anthemic ballad sound. It’s one of the most melodic tracks on Trilogy, showing the real depth of songwriting on offer here. The chorus is particularly beautiful, as it features a choir of backing vocals that glimmer with a haunting beauty. Lost Inside is another softer track, relying on a subtle sense of dynamic build-ups and some truly emotive vocal phrasing. Finally, we come to Have A Cigar, which closes the record out nicely with a bold statement, seeing Soul Rash tackle the Pink Floyd classic with aplomb. Instead of just doing a straight-up cover, Soul Rash have instead made the song their own, making for an extremely impressive finale.
On Trilogy, it’s made perfectly clear that Soul Rash have delivered a thoroughly captivating record that feels as earnest as it is powerful. It may have taken several years to create this record, but the time clearly paid off, with Trilogy sounding like a cohesive album experience that is meant to be savoured from start to finish. Give it a whirl below and see what you think!
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