Chris Saunders stands tall with "Inferno," an emotionally stirring guitar-driven trip through memory, emotion, and personal fire. Born and raised in Manhattan, though bearing the pulsing beat of British and Jamaican roots, Saunders infuses his varied musical heritage with a track that is equal parts timeless and boldly fresh.
Chris's voice is fragile in parts, commanding in others, and open in every verse. It's the sort of delivery that stops you halfway through thought and forces you to lean in and feel out every syllable. Borrowing from his upbringing on the music of Bob Marley, Eric Clapton, and the soul of Marvin Gaye, Saunders serves as a bridge to generations of music with a voice all his own. And when the song hits its hook, it explodes. The payoff is explosive but not in any way overblown. It is dignified, earned, honest, and emotionally cathartic.
"Inferno" is a mood, a movement, a moment. It kicks off with a magnetic bassline that you can feel as though it were the unforced thump of a slow-burning heart. With the guitar swelling and receding and curling about his raw, candid vocals, it quickly becomes apparent this is something far more than just another classic rock ballad. It's a string-laden confession, a glistening emotional climax that meets you at the forefront of their internal struggles.
You are presented with a lived-in, alive soundscape where every instrument breathes, disappears, and reappears like smoke. The guitar work, in particular, is remarkable and expressive without drawing attention away from the whole. Its overall structure resembles a score geared more toward a cinematic moment than an independent track. Ultimately, "Inferno" leaves you scorched in the best way, shaken by its ferocity yet drawn back by its beauty. It is the rare indie rock anthem that misses trends but ignites its own path. For lovers of alternative rock with a soul, "Inferno" is worth living in.
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