Tuesday 10 November 2015

KIND - Rocket Science (Album Review)


Release date: December 11th 2015. Label: Ripple Music. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Rocket Science – Tracklisting

German For Lucy
Fast Number One
Rabbit Astronaut
Hordeolum
Pastrami Blaster
Siberia
Grogan
The Angry Undertaker

Band Members:

Matthew Couto - drums
Tom Corino - bass
Craig Riggs - vocals
Darryl Shepard - guitar

Review:

KIND is the type of band that everyone should be screaming from the rooftops thanking their lucky stars that actually exists in the world of Stoner Rock.

KIND inject shades of Heavy Metal, Classic Hard Rock and even Krautrock into their music to create a sound that is refreshing, exciting and original all in one go. Did you expect anything less with members from bands such as Roadsaw, Black Pyramid, Rozamov and ELDER. So has that line-up got you excited. It should as these guys let their music do the talking.

Opening track – German For Lucy – is a fuzzed up powerhouse of a track with the band laying the ground-work for the next 50 minutes or so. Epic almost doomy riffs with Craig's vocals offering an almost crazed psychedelic vibe. You can hear shades of the members other bands running through out the album but this is KIND's turn in the limelight. And they don't disappoint, not even for a second. The spaced-out fuzz riffs near the middle of the song wants me to freak out and explore whatever world KIND take me to.

Second track – Fast Number One – is a classic Hard Rock/Stoner Rock song in tone and structure. It has more of a Roadsaw feel but given the KIND makeover with each band member bring their own style of Stoner Rock to the party. The FUZZ is strong on this song as KIND show they're perfectly at home creating fast-paced numbers compared to spaced-out epics such as German For Lucy.

Third track – Rabbit Astronaut – will appeal to fans of old-school Stoner Rock that Kyuss and Monster Magnet made famous back in the day. Craig's trippy vocals add a dangerous vibe that allows the rest of the band a chance to show off in the riffs department. It's a fantastic spaced-out journey that ranks as one of the albums best songs.

Fourth track – Hordeolum – is another epic track clocking in at almost 9 mins. KIND venture into the world of Progressive Rock with elements of Fuzz, Doom, Stoner and Psych Rock for a song that will be whirling around in your head for days. The vocals are a mixture of clean based vocals and tripped out chants which I didn't expect. It's perhaps Craig's strongest vocal performance on the album. Tom impresses on Bass as he lays down impressive funk based solos.

I'm happy to report the 2nd half is good as the first half. Even better in some cases especially with songs such as Pastrami Blaster, Siberia, Grogan and my fave track from the album – The Angry Undertaker.

The Angry Undertaker is the final song and KIND leave the best song till last. A 9:30 minute thrill-ride that will have you on the edge of your seat. The song is built upon a simple premise but it's how KIND deliver that premise and turn the song it into something exciting and original. It's a masterclass in Psychedelic/Stoner Rock with layers of distorted Fuzz/Doomy atmospherics to end this album on a high.

KIND have created a magical and almost surreal experience with Rocket Science and one that ranks as perhaps the best Stoner Rock album of the year. Yeah, I said it. I have a feeling a lot of other people will be saying the same thing in the months to come. Trust me, you don't want to miss out on this brilliant album.

Kudos to Ripple Music for signing these guys to their impressive roster. Ripple Music are showing the world once again why they're the premier Hard Rock/Stoner Rock label currently out there. They're signing artists such as KIND and long may it continue.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Richard at Sheltered Life PR for the promo. KIND will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl from Ripple Music on December 11th 2015.

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