Album Notes

For their third LP, “Timbre,” local post-grunge outfit Noxious turned down the volume and turned up the soul. The album’s progressive-acoustic sounds recall those on Alice In Chains’ 1994 changeup “Jars of Flies.” There’s a reason for that, says Noxious bassist Chief Spires.

“We wanted to have our own personal ‘Jar of Flies.’ When they put that out everybody was like, ‘Whoa, what are you doing?’ ” Spires says.

Six “Timbre” tunes are rearranged songs from previous albums. Guitarists Robert Dirr and Stuart McConnell deconstructed old riffs so the disc wouldn’t sound like they only traded Flying-Vs for Hummingbirds. “Broken” was revamped with copper-string-rainfall, lilting violin, R&B bass and drummer Jake Axelson’s jazz fills.

The four new songs are some of Noxious’ best yet. “Long Hard Road” glows with crystal-toned electric guitar and back-porch harmonies. On disc-opener “What Lies Ahead,” mandolin circles compliment singer Hans Wenzel’s vocals, which are restrained and tasteful throughout “Timbre.” No shrieking here.

“Hans is a really good, rootsy type singer and he doesn’t get a chance to do that on the heavier stuff,” Spires says.

The relaxed basic tracking for “Timbre” took place at Spires’ own studio, Master This in Greenville, SC, while the embellishments—organ, harmonica, etc.—were recorded at Black Hole Studios in Taylors, SC with producer Drew Brown.