The Chocolate Horse: Beasts

The Chocolate Horse
Beasts
Stable Records [2011]









Fire Note Says: The Chocolate Horse offer up another skilled sonic experience that is both reserved and intense.

Album Review:
Cincinnati group The Chocolate Horse have been a staple on the towns indie scene since the summer of 2003 and on the groups third long player, Beasts, they once again tackle an array of musical experimentation that has a dense melodic indie edge that will grab your attention. The group supports 6 members that helps give Beasts depth with guitar, banjo, keyboards, horns, bowed saw, vibraphone, bass, alto flute, ocarina, drums and other miscellaneous percussion instruments. This vast roster of instruments helps create the sonic experience you get with The Chocolate Horse as Beasts is a slow grower all the way to the finish line. Most of the songs are in the mid-tempo range that are driven by the burning instrumentation and Jason Snell's calm and sturdy vocals. It creates an intensity that runs throughout Beasts and always has you anticipating the next big change or layered instrument switch. A perfect example of this can be found on "Fool's Gold" half way though, as the entire song picks up the pace and increases its musical thickness with both instruments and Snell's commanding voice. The Chocolate Horse won't instantly take you over because Beasts is a record that needs repeat spins but after you sit with the album for a bit, it is a record that has a little something for everyone without ever losing its intensity, focus or ability to rock out!

Key Tracks: "Fool's Gold", "Make It Up Tonight", "Found Another Way"

Bands With Similar Fire:
DeVotchka
The Soundtrack Of Our Lives
Alexander

The Chocolate Horse Website
The Chocolate Horse Facebook
Stable Records

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony