Number H - Whisper In Your Ear

Number H are a rock band from Italy that have graced 2010 with their second album, Whisper In Your Ear. However, don't expect anything quiet from this album. Bringing back memories of the 90s hard rock and grunge rockers such as Alice and Chains, Creed, Soundgarden, Disturbed, and Incubus, there's more than enough catchy headbanging music here for anyone to enjoy. Composed of only four people, the music here is full of talent and just enough slight grit to keep things from sounding too pop influenced or too slick.

Opening with "One Day," there's some slow, melodic string pickings before the music picks up into some rapid tremolo picking and hard rock riffs in the vein of a band like Breaking Bejamin. Vocals are sung in a low monotone in a style similar to that of Alice and Chains and Creed, but with plenty of conviction. Drums are hard, clear, and solid. "Never Too Late" has a Disturbed influence in the way the riffs are performed, whereas "Where I'm Going" and "Have You Seen" sounds just like something Soundgarden would put out: hard yet emotional at the same time. The solos here are wailing and exciting. "Get Away" is pure Stone Temple Pilots influence. "Breaking the Chains" is a bit quieter than the other songs, but the emotional sense in this rock ballad is still a huge excitement. The vocals are as clear as always and have a bit more pitch than the low groan that they had in the earlier tracks. "Fuck Your Mind" delivers as the title promises: fast and hard with a bit more edge than the other tracks. "Breathe" has some great vocal melodies that are in harmony with the guitar riffs, and the closing track is gritty, chunky riffs with some clear bass work to turn the 'grunge' meter way up. It's going to be a pure headbanger for sure.

Ultimately, Number H is a pure rock tribute band to the 90s, sounding like so many different influences but retaining their own flavor and style. With only two albums so far, it's obvious they are on the road of progression in just putting out better and better albums each time. Hopefully with future work they will continue cranking out hard and heavy music in the vein of other great 90s bands such as Staind, Cold, Sevendust, Deftones, Korn, creating a wildly eclectic mix of excellent headbanging material. A definite must for anyone who has even the slighest appreciation for rock music.

  1. One Day
  2. Never Too Late
  3. Broken Dreams
  4. Where I'm Going
  5. Get Away
  6. Have You Seen?
  7. Break The Chains
  8. Fuck Your Mind
  9. Floating
  10. Breathe
  11. A Safer Place

SG Records
Reviewer: Colin McNamara
May 4, 2010

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