Hailing from the small town of Ashland, Ohio, alternative rockers Bel Auburn have managed to deliver a promising debut of emotional, textured rock that successfully portrays their talent as musicians. Clocking in at a little under an hour, Cathedrals starts and ends on similar notes, staying throughout on a tone of rock grandiosity in the vein of a Silverchair or Sense Field. Thankfully, the album isn’t hurt by this too much, as the group’s skillful songwriting manages to keep the listener enthralled. Singer Jared Crooks’s serene, soft voice gives form and power to the band’s melodic instrumentalism, which makes liberal use of piano, trumpet, and violin.

There’s a lot to like about Cathedrals. The body of songs starts off with “The Speed of Thought,” an uptempo rocker heralding Bel Auburn’s arrival with churning, expertly-layered guitars and one of Crooks’s few ventures into higher notes. “Sing What You Mean” continues the group’s unbridled optimism, as pounding drums and stop-start guitars punctuate an enthusiastic chorus. The excellent “Bright” succeeds with its sheer intricacy: three guitars undulate over and under infectious vocal hooks, then break out into a minute of effortful jamming. “Hands, Away”’s paced, deliberate tempo mixes well with ghostlike vocals and a haunting, recurring trumpet.

Bel Auburn has managed to craft an impressive arrangement of heartfelt, melodic music that would appeal to any fan of rock. Drawing on the influence of bands like Coldplay and Collective Soul, yet successfully adding their own style and charm, this group of upstarts has more than made their mark on the map.