Anthem For The Underdog

Finally, after 3 years, the hard rock/post-grunge band 12 Stones have returned with their third effort, Anthem For The Underdog. As you probably already know, 12 Stones caught our attention when front man Paul McCoy was featured in the highly misinterpreted Evanescence hit, “Bring Me to Life.” They have also been featured in the media numerous times, from WWE to the Elektra Soundtrack (along with Switchfoot). So, with that being said, does this record really reflect upon that success? Or will they still be considered underdogs despite their success?

First things first - this album doesn’t necessarily break any new ground. Most of what you hear will remind you of acts such as Nickelback, Daughtry, Creed, Puddle of Mudd, and even a hint of Nirvana. That’s not to say that this isn’t an effort worth listening to. The tracks on this record are relatively catchy and it doesn’t take many spins to get you into the high energetic rock sound it has to offer. From the first track, “Anthem for the Underdog,” the album wastes no time giving the best it has to offer, in terms of energy and lyrical content. Anthem for the Underdog is exactly what the title suggests; an anthem for Christians considered born to lose. Tracks such as “Lie to Me,” “Broken Road” (which slightly resembles Nickelback’s “How You Remind Me”), and “Games You Play” discuss broken relationships. While others, like “It was You,” bring forward a worship atmosphere. One true highlight would have to be “This Dark Day.” This song encourages the listener that there is hope in any seemingly hopeless situation, “I’ll close my eyes and I’ll drift away/I’ll make it through my darkest day.