stellar west - Unfiltered

Stellar West

Unfiltered
self-released; 2017

3.8 out of 5

BY Dan Weston

Stellar West is a young band from Chicago comprised of Parker (vocals/guitar), Jake (drums) and Cole (bass/vocals) that recently released an album entitled Unfiltered. When I say young the lead songwriter Parker is only fourteen. The band played Riot Fest this past summer and were recently placed by Alt Press in the Top seven rising bands under twenty-one. That’s certainly not a bad start.

Stellar West is a band in the spirit of punk bands like Operation Ivy, NOFX and a lot of skate punk that was coming out in the ’90s. Regardless of their age the band is quite impressive; the fact that they are so young makes it quite remarkable. They are extremely tight and in the pocket while giving notable technical performances. I also thought the vocals sounded great and to be perfectly blunt I wasn't sure I was going to.

The album is made of thirteen songs which average around two-and-a-half-minutes. My only arguable point is that the album may have fared better at ten songs. Thirteen songs is a lot of songs but they all go by fast as most punk songs should.

The songs bleed into each other but that really works for this album. They find a sound and just ride it through the songs. The band’s tone never changes much. Everything is loud. The guitars are distorted, the drums are hit hard and the bass makes sure it doesn't all fall apart. 

The songs are full on infectious hooks. Take for example “Repeat.” I’m not sure what was catchier the verse or the chorus but either way it’s a solid song. There are plenty of other songs which have hooks you can sink your teeth into such as “Hours Stand Still” and “Judgement Day” along with many more.

​This band can make a career out of music as long as they keep at it. They are already writing songs way past their age. Take a listen and keep your eye on them

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