Most people have probably never heard of Bad Seed Rising. That’s not to sound cliche and pretentious, it’s just that the band is celebrating the release of only its second EP. Charm City is an excellent example of the talent and unique sound this four piece rock group possesses.

It has clear origins in the golden days of hard rock, with influences seeming to include groups like Led Zeppelin and Guns n’ Roses. But they are also comparable to fresher rock groups like The White Stripes, Fall Out Boy, and the Foo Fighters.

The band is composed of four members all under 17: Francheska (16) on vocals and guitar, Mason (13) on guitar, Aiden (12) on drums and Louey (15) on bass. The fact that these kids can create such a raw EP is a testament to the drive and passion they have for making music. Good music at that.

Charm City is a solid example of the level of talent they currently possess and the potential growth of the band. “Hey Kid” seems to be the song that could go mainstream the fastest for the group. It’s driving vocals and summer anthem vibe lend the song to a shot at instant popularity. “Wolves at the Door” is a song that has a great intro with strong rhythm guitar. The whole pacing of the song is very strong and polished. The only real disappointment on the EP was the track “King Kong”. The lyrics were pretty nonsensical and the overall sound of the track was not very inspiring.

It is beneficial for the group that Francheska and Aiden’s parents were in a professional band together. They already have connections in the industry and have even recorded with Chris Shiflett, lead guitarist for the Foo Fighters.

Bad Seed Rising has talent plain and simple. While it seems that they are still honing in on what their personal sound will be, the fact that they are still so young does not detract from the fact that they sound more experienced than they are. “Charm City” is not the strongest soundtrack EP ever released, but it may serve as a prototype for the hard rock that they have the ability to produce.