Album Review: Smoking Rogers – Comfort Zone (Seahorse Recordings)

Carl Fisher 2 min read

Italian alternative rock band Smoking Rogers will release their debut album ‘Comfort Zone’ on July 20th, 2021 via Seahorse Recordings.

The concept of the album is based on the analysis of the difficulty of being accepted in the discovery of one’s own identity, and of coming out of that “free zone” in which we close ourselves. We want to defend it from the arrows of a cultural world increasingly based on the emptiness of appearing and being mainstream rather than real.

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Comfort Zone? There’s nothing comforting about the ripping noise that builds in opener Thovez House. It’s got depth but is laid out in a way that befuddles until a clean and clear guitar solo bursts through.

Pimple is much more straight-forward, a bouncy rock medley that has some anthemic qualities about it. Whereas One Division Left and Spiritual Song have a 90’s grunge/rock flavour with sharper riffs, foot-tapping melodies and punky rhythmic dissonance.

I Want You to Know then changes things up with a more heartfelt melody. The vocal pairing is unexpected but nice. Smooth and easy to listen too, although the more robust finish is a bit rougher on the ears. Before Pascal on Stage doubles down on the previous tracks’ chilled out vibes with an electro-acoustic ballad that is lovely and sweet sounding.

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Rocking and rolling, 70’s is a lot of fun. The Butterflies is light and airy but really catchy, and Daybreak’s fuzzy riffs and energetic anthemic qualities stick in the mind. A trio of classy efforts with electricity running through them.

Which makes the finale all the more unexpected. I’ve Got Your Eyes is a bit darker, a bit weirder and fits nicely with the opener, in that there’s nothing comforting about this oddity. That doesn’t mean it isn’t enjoyable though as Smoking Rogers continue to offer up an array of sounds to deliberate over.

Smoking Rogers – Comfort Zone Full Track Listing:

1. Thovez House
2. Pimple
3. One Division Left
4. Spiritual Song
5. I Want You to Know
6. Pascal On Stage
7. 70’s
8. The Butterflies
9. Daybreak
10. I’ve Got Your Eyes




Links

Facebook | Instagram | Seahorse Recordings

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Smoking Rogers - Comfort Zone (Seahorse Recordings)
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