Hollow Souls EP Review.
British virtuoso blues-rock guitarist, former pro MMA fighter and hard rock frontman Kris Barras launches an exciting new musical collective that takes him back to his blues rock roots. Once the leading light of the young British blues-rock scene; is back with a new band Hollow Souls.
Kris’ own project Kris Barras Band had a mammoth 2024. From selling out headline shows in British castles, headlining Planet Rockstock, and a Top #5 UK album with Halo Effect.
Inspired by the U.S. supergroup Supersonic Blues Machine in which he also performed and energised by the wealth of British talent around him, to create Hollow Souls, Kris put together a homegrown jam band to serve as a creative sparring exercise during his downtime.
Hollow Souls is a dream project for Kris. Together with long-term collaborator, multi-instrumentalist and producer Josiah J Manning, using Josiah’s Plymouth-based Momentum Studios as their base, a studio band consisting of drummer Joe Harris (Toby Lee / Lack of Afro) and bass player Leighton Allen (Callum Scott / The Hoosiers) and when Kris invited in former KBB backing singer Phoebe Jane to jam, the floodgates of creativity truly opened. In writing for her dexterous range and astonishing power, Kris and Josiah knew they had found a singer with which their musical palette could continue to evolve; the spark that ignited a whole new band into existence with Hollow Souls.
Hollow Souls (L-R): Josiah J Manning, Phoebe Jane, Kris Barras
Photo Credit: © Rob Blackham
First up is Borderline that was the first single released with a guest appearance from James Jared Nichols on guitar. Blues rock at it's finest with a real stomping groove and huge chorus with Nichols guitar piercing the air throughout with guitar add libs in the verses and the main solo showing off his prowess and fitting in quite perfectly.
Bad Things is next with Phoebe trading vocals with Chris Tapp of The Cold Stares. Chris on the verses and Phoebe on the choruses and they gel seamlessly with the band and a slightly slower pace and then Kris hits a guitar solo full of ferocity and poise.
I Need The Fire will be a sure fire live show winner with a faster paced classic rock feel and Phoebe shines with some held notes full of power and the huge chorus that deserves to be sang back by stadiums on another song with a wonderful groove to it.
Burn It To The Ground sees the unmistakable vocals of chart topping, multi-award winning, Bristolian-Americana heroine Elles Bailey and it's fantastic .Kris is on slide guitar and Elles vocal delivery is a melodic gem and the band again hold it all together letting Elles vocal acrobatics cover it in glory.
Shotgun sees the band joined by Jon ‘Marv’ Harvey, formerly of the Canadian powerhouse southern rock band, Monster Truck with Phoebe providing backing vocals. A slight slowing in pace increases the heaviness and the big guitar riff comes in and out as Jon owns the track and Kris hits another guitar solo that rocks.
Chasing Ghosts is near 5 minutes of beauty with Kris on lead vocals on a ballad of the highest quality. Some lovely Hammond organ gives backing to the acoustic guitar feel and Phoebe backs up on the chorus alongside Kris's most emotional vocal delivery to date. Love the light and shade of the song as it goes down to a whisper and then builds as the band kick in with Kris's superb emotive guitar solo again another thing of beauty. Then back to the laid back feel before the end part in the outro sees both Kris and Phoebe giving it everything vocally.WOW.
A simply fantastic end to an ep that leaves you wanting and demanding more and a look into a very bright future across all of Kris's many musical projects.
Pre-order yours now and be part of the first chapter of Hollow Souls
https://shop.hollowsouls.co.uk/
The debut Hollow Souls EP drops on Friday 10th October and the band hit the road in the UK from the 16th of October to the 9th of November with special guest Troy Redfern.
