Lions for Sheep tinkers with sound

In this job, you can derive a great deal of satisfaction from watching young artists grow and develop. Take Lions for Sheep, for instance.

This St. Albert rock band first pulled themselves together in 2006 to enter a Paul Kane High Battle of the Bands. Incidentally the Seinfeld junkies won and two years later went on to release their first album, The Contest, a seven-track CD of vintage rock grooves layered with modern undertones.

This coming Friday, the five-piece releases Nostalgia, a full-length nine-track that displays a post-high school maturity, yet still has a few throwback elements to their younger days.

Recorded with Jeff Olsen of Phonetic Sound live off the floor in a two-day burst, the band then snared the mixing talents of long-time mentor Calvin McElroy. The result is heavier, rockier and more distorted.

“It has a darker tone. It’s soaked in reverb and we took out the higher guitar so we could get fatter, thicker tones. Our first album sounded more rock and roll. This one sounds darker and dirtier,” said vocalist/guitarist Erik Grice.

Rounding out the indie rock fivesome is Devon Fortier (guitar/vocals), Todd Andrews (bass), Peter Keith (drums) and Matt Kraus (organ/ivories).

A band that steers away from issue-based songs, they prefer to write about girls, relationships and summer fun. In Young Hearts, they’ve added a pedal steel that almost gives it a slow Neil Young flavour.

One element that’s given the band a completely different vibe since Kraus joined the band last April is the organ. The band was strongly influenced by Sam Roberts’ work on Chemical City and they opted to do their own version using Kraus’ talents.

In Pickin’ On Me the organ adds a “whirly sound” and in Four Seasons, it boasts a 1960s sound. And in Highway to Canada, a tale of a road trip cut short, the organ texture just adds another layer. “It started out kind of rocky. By the time we recorded it changed to a darker sound with a more powerful influence from Constantine. The bass sounds dirty and the organ is played lower.”

And yes, there’s even an ode to St. Albert – This Hole of a Town. “Devon wrote it as a throwback to everyone who wants to get out. As much as you hate the place you live in, you return to your roots. You have a connection to it. As much as you want to go into the future, you cling to the past.”

Of the CD release party, Grice says, “We have a really good energy and we usually get good audience participation. Doug Hoyer is amazing and Steam Engine is really good.”

For an album teaser visit www.lionsforsheep.com.