Pepper Stevens was born and raised in Savannah, Georgia. He now resides in Newport News, Virginia. Along with being an author, he is a singer-songwriter with the albums, “Drawing on the Walls” and “Daylight across the Shadows” plus various singles out now. The oldest of five siblings he has traveled the United States to just about every state. Writing and music are his passions. However, he says that his most prized accomplishment is that of his four year old daughter.
“Drawing on the Walls”, with unflinchingly honest, unrepentant songs like “The Ghost is Me” and “I’m Not All Right,” as well as the deeply moving “Angel of Death” and the soulful love song “Unfaded Memories”. The album delivers on its mission statement throughout its 12 tracks. From a thematic standpoint, “Drawing on the Walls” is a record about vulnerability. It reveals the bruises and scars, but also the healing that hides itself inside truths. It’s not an album for the faint of heart. Every single song makes a statement. It has the kind of emotion that makes every hair on the back of your neck stand on end.
The production is raw, unpolished and loud, and the result blends together bold, strident guitar power, blues-tinged vocal fury and cutting-edge metallic mayhem. The lyrics are catchy and clever; the songs are alternately growly and melodic, depending upon the subject matter and mood of any given track. Like anything else, some songs just hit you and you’ll really enjoy them from the start and other songs have to grow on you for a little while.
Those that hit straight between the eyes, more probably than not will include: “Where Dreams Are Made”, “Don’t Tell Me”, “Take A Stand”, “Am I The Only One” and “Slave To Being Free”. Pepper Stevens successfully combines the sounds of ’70s arena rock with a grunge sensibility and an alternative rock feel. The primal energy contained within these tracks is a revelation in the purest sense. This stuff makes you race, then slow, then race again, and you just lose yourself in a myriad of raw edge guitar rock. Drifting from one song to the next, the album holds together as one cohesive work, painting an elaborate, psychedelic picture.
Pepper Stevens has a knack for writing heavy, catchy, infectious riffs with good sing-along choruses and he has withstood the transition from the acoustic format into a hard rock ass-kicking formula. If you want to get a ruff n’ ready rock record that never lets you down and boasts both chops and songwriting pick this one up. You won’t be disappointed.
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