12 Stones

Take a second and say hello to an unfamiliar face, but one that will be very recognizable in the nearing future. This visage is 12 Stones, the latest signee to somewhat wet behind the ears Wind Up Records. A foursome of 20-something gentlemen hailing from New Orleans, Louisiana, they are said to be filled with anger, passion, energy, heroics, and spirit. With a self-titled debut release, produced by Jay Baumgardner (Papa Roach, Drowning Pool, Alien Ant Farm), let’s see if what’s being said is really true.

When Wind Up contacted me to review their latest musical acquisition, I jumped at the chance. I have cultivated much admiration for the extremely gifted label that has turned the mediocre sounds of Creed into a Platinum-selling mainstay for almost every household worldwide, and taking into account bands such as Drowning Pool and Finger Eleven, which are only beginning to make waves in the industry.


Getting things started is the weighty alt rock sound of “Crash” which almost mimics, at times, lead singer Paul McCoy’s vocals to Scott Stapp of Creed or Aaron Lewis of Staind. “Broken,” the first single off their debut, has nothing but radio play stamped all over it while “The Way I Feel” brings an ascending anthem that battles the task of finding God when everything’s gone wrong. “Open Your Eyes” and “Home,” are next, and dabble as two weakly manufactured sounds that aren’t even worth mentioning.