CREEPTONES – ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

 

Creeptones from the Toms River/Asbury Park section of New Jersey have just dropped their sophomore album entitled Hell + Ice. Formed in 2010, the band released their first record, The Creep is Born, in 2012. Between 2012 -2017, the band became a staple in the resurgent art scene around Asbury Park previously made famous by Springsteen and Southside Johnny.

Creeptones were originally founded by Nico Lucido and Carmine Stoppiello. Even though Nico eventually left, his presence is still felt as he remains the band’s graphic designer and part time collaborator. In the meantime Carmine enlisted bassist Will Hernandez, guitarist Johnny Vines and drummer Tom Cirillo (Carmine’s brother) to round out the current lineup.

Hell + Ice is a beautifully crafted album covering many different genres of music. Hell + Ice delves into pop, psych, and indie with beautiful musical soundscapes and luscious harmonies. Every song is a tiny masterpiece that results in a massive explosion of sound. Creeptones‘ use of aural atmosphere is amazing and the whole album is totally captivating.

Just listen to the first two singles released off the record. “Hell and Ice” is a laid back psychedelic treasure with hypnotic floating vocals and spacey synths. The orchestration is a tour de force with every instrument in perfect unity with the ambient tone. Carmine comments on the song: “It’s the title track on our album because we felt it captured the times we’re living in on some levels. The individual over the collective, the few over the many, but with the idea that it can’t keep getting worse, right? Right?

“Soul Fire” with its feel good aura and classic 60’s harmonies shows another side of the Creeptones. The swirling harmonies and crisp guitar coupled with a dynamic backbeat forges a magical cadence.The vocals are plainly superb. I can hear both Secret American and Phoenix influences throughout the enriched melody.

The rest of the songs on Hell + Ice are just as grand. The vivid songwriting is ever present. Creeptones have embellished the album with a wealth of rich sound and outstanding flowing rhythms. The opulent “All of This Time” and the lofty “Sweet Stuff” are other highlights.The trippy “Security Threat” and symphonious “Never Come Back” are also must listens. In fact all the songs are must listens.

With Hell + Ice, Creeptones have recorded a titanic endeavor. Every aspect of this release is infused with brilliance and ingenuity. I was greatly impressed with the quality of harmonic texture Creeptones were able in put into this record. I’m so dazzled that I have to rank Hell + Ice as one of my top releases of 2020. It’s only a mater of time before the rest of the world catches on too.

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Follow Creeptones:  Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram
Stream their music:  Spotify / Soundcloud / Reverbnation / YouTube
Purchase:  iTunes / Amazon

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