New Radiant Storm King
The Steady Hand
( Darla ) 2006

New Radiant Storm King was agreed upon as this western Massachusetts band's working title in early 1990, with Peyton Pinkerton and Matt Hunter in the initial formation. NRSK opened for Nirvana at Hampshire College around this time. The folks at Darla have known New Radiant Storm King since their earliest days. Robert Pollard stated he wrote "I am a Scientist" after repeated listens to NRSK's "The Opposing Engineer Sleeps Alone". This band has seen the bright sides as well as the dim, ghastly sides of devious corporate labels (see: Alan Melzter).

All of these documented facts were unveiled as I luckily absorbed the latest album from NRSK, The Steady Hand ("From A Roof" makes for really good research, I'll add). I am in awe that this - their seventh proper album ( LEFTOVER BLUES: 1991-2003 was a rarity / singles collection ) - is my first glimpse into the wonderful machine that this band is. Sixteen years on, after a 5 year "break" to recover from the Y2K scare - The Steady Hand is amongst us, thanks to Darla.

I'll tell you something obvious - "From A Roof" has an opening that should inject fear into the rugrats that think 2 months in their parent's garage with shit-shined new instruments will make them instant sensations.. . not that a little hope won't help. Pinkerton and Hunter have years of experience bolted down, and The Steady Hand holds 13 documentations that prove the work has (or is) paid off. The instrumentation, from the opening "Overture" through the swollen & icy guitars (see: "Sunset Provisions") that fill The Steady Hand, is enough to make a new fan of NRSK - but these lyrics are to envy. Picking just one reference point is a bit of a challenge, as this album reads separately like well-thought writings should. "Scuttled" may make the best impression on those partial to great lyrics such as myself: "our faith was a faded map we read by flashlight / charted by drunken sailors under starlight".

The Steady Hand doesn't require the listener to break down the many layers captured on each composition to view the album as the prize that it proves to be. It is, however, those willing to study the individual factors that make the end result so fascinating that will understand why & how this album succeeds in so many ways. All that, plus the multi-panel booklet that accompanies the album is brimming with original art (credit due to Daniel Dove & Kathranne Knight) suitable for framing.

"don't get up, everything's waiting".

k :: (01.01.06)