With his critically acclaimed, major label debut, ‘Child Of The State’, churning out the #1 hit “Mercy” and two Top 5 singles (“Take Me Away,” “Supercharged”), AYRON JONES shows no signs of slowing down. Nominated for Best New Rock Artist at the 2022 iHeartRadio Music Awards, the gritty, genre-blending musician is an amalgam of the rich history of his hometown of Seattle. He continues his ascent in the rock world and breaking barriers with his new album, ”Chronicles Of The Kid”.
We already enjoyed Ayron first album when featured at plotn08, and this new one is even better delivering blockbusting, heartbreaking, beautiful, and bluesy rock ‘n’ roll on ”Chronicles Of The Kid”. “I came for the title,” he sings. “I got a word to my rivals.” The verdict? If it’s a matter of survival, this kid’s still standing.
Straight off the bat, the album explodes into life with ‘Strawman’, laying out just what to expect from the next 35 minutes. It’s a bold, riff-heavy track packed with emotion, emphasised by Jones’ passionate vocals.
‘Blood In The Water’ starts with slow moody guitars that reflect Jones’ tortured lyricism as he builds up to an electrifying climax that also exudes passion. ‘The Title’ is super catchy, exhibiting powerful hooks and motivational lyrics that will give listeners more than a little extra oomph.
‘Otherside’ is a wonderful demonstration of how Jones can blend different genres to create his unique flavour. It starts, both instrumentally and vocally, as R&B with elements of trap before quickly shifting into hard-hitting rock. The two styles continue to intertwine throughout the rest of the track as it builds up to an absolutely ripping guitar solo.
The next song, ‘My America’, is another catchy song featuring riffs and solos galore. Despite the commercial radio sound, there’s enough skill and intensity to make it a decent track.
Then, at least initially, ‘Living For The Fall’ offers some respite from the onslaught of Jones’ brutal shredding. A slow introduction leads into a series of relatively mellow guitar solos before Jones unleashes hell for a thundering solo at the two-and-a-half-minute mark. ‘Living For The Fall’ comes across as one of the more thoughtful tracks on ”Chronicles of the Kid”.
If ”Chronicles of the Kid” didn’t have enough attitude up to this point, Jones turns everything to ten for ‘Filthy’, not least his swagger. And for this, it’s one of the album’s biggest tracks. It lacks any of the intricacies of ‘Living For The Fall’, but then it’s hardly looking to be subtle. This same vibe is carried over into ‘Get High’, though is turned down a notch or two.
‘The Sky Is Crying’ really emphasises Jones’ more soulful influences. It’s a gorgeous track that adds a feel-good factor to the closing passages of the album. Its gentler tone results in it getting a little lost in the sheer power of the rest of the CD, which is unfortunate because it’s an outstanding song.
”Chronicles of the Kid” finishes with ‘On Two Feet I Stand’. Here, Jones provides a violently poignant last chapter that fits well with the rest of the album. It’s an energetic riff and solo-laden piece that’s an epic end to an authoritative fourth album from Ayron Jones.
”Chronicles of the Kid” marks the chapter in Jones’ career that cements his signature style. The album has enough variability, raw power, and heartfelt emotion to make it a genuinely entertaining listen.
Highly Recommended
01 – Strawman
02 – Blood In The Water
03 – The Title
04 – Otherside
05 – My America
06 – Living For The Fall
07 – “Filthy”
08 – Get High
09 – The Sky Is Crying
10 – On Two Feet I Stand