It's been a particularly heavy ride for Wales' answer to Queens Of The Stone Age over the years, many forks, bumps and breakdowns have tested their resolve over the years but they've always been a constant presence on the local scene.
Honing their craft alongside opening slots for Mondo Generator, Alain Johannes, Green Lung amongst others, they’ve even played QOTSA and Kyuss cuts with Nick Oliveri in the past, which has solidified their influences.
Despite all their live shows the band have not done much in the ay of releases but now these road dogs have finally dropped their self-titled debut album, so prepare yourself car stereos as we're about to go Heavy On The Ride.
Having recently added guitarist Ryan Williams to the band, the album was recorded by the tenured trio of Jordan Huxtable (guitar/vocals), Michael Bale (bass/vocals) and Jason Young drums, Jordan and Joe Garcia sharing the recording duties.
Having recently added guitarist Ryan Williams to the band, the album was recorded by the tenured trio of Jordan Huxtable (guitar/vocals), Michael Bale (bass/vocals) and Jason Young drums, Jordan and Joe Garcia sharing the recording duties.
Dave Tidmarsh mixed and Brad Boatright mastered, making 10 songs that define the band, ready for long road trips across desolate plains or for playing at full volume with your buddies and some beers.
There's plenty of QOTSA style grooving here from the live staple Cheshire Cat Grin to Sunseeker, the fuzz frothing and the riffs having that walking start-stop strut that is all about the groove, taken from the blues but through a 90’s alt rock filter.
There's plenty of QOTSA style grooving here from the live staple Cheshire Cat Grin to Sunseeker, the fuzz frothing and the riffs having that walking start-stop strut that is all about the groove, taken from the blues but through a 90’s alt rock filter.
Heavy On The Ride area also able to take off into the upper atmosphere with mind altering desert rock, where Kyuss is the main comparison, the dreamy Interludes gives way to Almost Alive, with a couple of the tracks falling under the numerous Kyuss/QOTSA splinter acts but they never fully shake off their primary influences.
Away from Homme and Co when Heavy On The Ride get heavier there's the blood and thunder of Mastodon/Baroness on I Owe You Nothing, all of these cuts taking a dual vocal approach that works really well to add to the dynamics, be it double clean harmonies or some trade-offs.
Away from Homme and Co when Heavy On The Ride get heavier there's the blood and thunder of Mastodon/Baroness on I Owe You Nothing, all of these cuts taking a dual vocal approach that works really well to add to the dynamics, be it double clean harmonies or some trade-offs.
The debut feels like a collaborative effort despite the recording line up only being a trio, you can hear the experience of the band, every moment is curated to grab the attention and keep your head nodding and your feet tapping.
Heavy On The Ride play riffs that bite, grooves that rumble and top it all with a little left field weirdness that permeates and never lets you get too comfortable about what's coming next. Long awaited but very much worth it get Heavy On The Ride, you won’t want to get off! 9/10
Recluse - Atrocity Parade (Self Released)
Despite being around the South Wales riff community for a long time, I'm really disappointed in myself that I'd not come across Recluse before this album.
They've had three albums before this one so I'll be diving into those after I've written this review but let's concentrate on Atrocity Parade, their fourth full length record that comes with an album cover that hints at something neon and possibly terrifying behind a door.
So let's open up that door and explore the music of Recluse who are a band that I would class as stoner/grunge, much like compatriots Lethargy, Recluse have a long list of inspirations that from Soundgarden (Conduit), though Kyuss, King Gizzard and some Tool (...In The Handwriting Of Others)
Passionlessly begins album number four with the sort of fuzzy alt riffs you get from QOTSA, swaggering and lumbering, but feeling stripped back and dirty. From here Doll Skull is a breathy Nirvana-like haze, close up and wrought with emotion playing with that 90's loud/quiet duality.
It's after two songs I get why this is the fourth record from Recluse, they're have a skill that allows them to take heavy, riffy routes with shifting pace of With The Predetermined Jump Length Into The Room Of The Infinite Death Loop behind them but Recluse can also enter the world of psychadelic/desert rock on Depression both linked together by the acoustic interlude Severed.
Far from an Atrocity Parade, Recluse have put together a record of rough-hewn diamonds that bring riffs, melody and more besides. 8/10
The Scepter- Shadows In The Tower (No Remorse Records)
Canada has a very rich heavy metal scene, especially when it comes to the traditional heavy metal revival of that began in the 2010's.
Formed towards the end of that, 2018 to be exact, The Scepter fall more into heavy/power metal category with their music owing influence to bands like Riot but also Helloween and Iron Maiden on Where Art Thou and Protector Of The Skies, where the vocals of JP Abboud really impress.He's the former singer of Traveler, Gatekeeper, and Borrowed Time so he's got quite a pedigree behind him.
Abboud is the best fit for this band, exorcising those speed metal demons on Burn Bundy Burn, where guitarists Josh Collins and Morgan Walsh whip up a storm that continues through Dunes where Stew Everitt (bass) and John Crawford (drums) dictate the pace and the rapid fire gallop of the Title Track which ends this debut record in a tight 29 minutes.
Classic metal from the Great White North as The Scepter pay homage to royalty but add enough of their own flair as well. 7/10
Hypnotic Gaze - Demo (Self Released)
Featuring members of High Command and Mistress, Hypnotic Gaze are the newest throwback, retro, traditional, whatever you want to call it, heavy metal band that is taking its first steps into the heavy metal world.
A three track affair, it's rough and ready to burst out of 1986, all twin axe attacks, soaring vocals, and galloping riffs, as the speed kicks in for Debaucherous Knights after the strutting Lunar Spell begins this Demo with some street metal right from the Sunset Strip.
It's a Demo so it's not going to sound polished or pristine, but really I don't want to to be, this sounds like it should be recorded straight onto cassette and with the closing epic The Ballad Of The Webster Lizard, Hypnotic Gaze prove that they can do more than just speedy heavy metal.
I'm looking forward to what Hypnotic Gaze bring on their first 'proper' album. 7/10
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