Nashville-based CS Hellmann managed to captivate me entirely with his utterly gorgeous ‘The Fear I Felt’. An alternative rock/country stunner that displays the artist’s unerring affection for guitars (comes with the territory), his delicate songwriting and impassioned vocals, and his intimate connection to his bluesy roots.
‘The Fear I Felt’ sees CS Hellmann, who grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, and now resides in Nashville, face to face with his father’s lack of trust in his musical abilities, and it sees him completely owning the challenge, coming absolutely on top. The deep-hitting drums, prominent vocals, bittersweet composition, and bonkers guitar tones make the music somewhat reminiscent of Bear’s Den, which is extremely fine in my book.
Where CS Hellmann stands totally out is in how bonkers those guitar tones are. The song features a wailing lead guitar line that doubles down on the post-chorus section, making it a moment of exhilarating excitement. With vocal layering that sees Hellmann provide a colorful harmony line on the captivating chorus, a catchy hook is achieved, giving the song even more value, and supporting Hellmann’s intimate and gentle vocal delivery.
‘The Fear I Felt’ sees Hellmann embracing his roots and his endless list of influences from Nashville giants and global guitar heroes, blending them all lovingly together, and coming up with a beautiful result. An artist with a strong identity to his sound, reverence to his musical roots, and most importantly, a good ear for a really good melody.
