Monday 23 April 2018

Let It Breathe - S/T (Album Review)


Release date: April 28th 2018. Label: STB Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Let It Breathe – S/T – Tracklisting

1.Bucket Of Bullheads
2.Fat Lip
3.Greater Than I 04:57
4.Mauler 05:17
5.Blood Relations
6.Coramoor
7.Wanderer

Members

Jason - D
Randy - G,V
Rob - B

Review

Let It Breathe are the latest band to receive a stellar STB Vinyl Release with their self-titled debut album. A potential sign advising future listeners how good this album really is. I will admit that Let It Breathe were a new discovery for myself. I only heard of them when I received the album promo to review. So what can you expect on the album. That's a tough one.

Let It Breathe have an intriguing Psychedelic Doom/Stoner Metal sound with a lot of other different influences and sounds happening at the same time. The band are perhaps more influenced by the seventies and nineties style of Hard Rock/Doom Rock with the Stoner Rock sounds allowing the band to keep a less modern sound.

Opening track - Bucket Of Bulletheads - is driven along by a thumping bass line and psychedelic groovy guitars. The vocals from Randy are rooted between classic doom rock and psychedelic stoner rock. The album is quite gloomy and atmospheric with Let It Breathe managing to keep their classic rock approach down to a fine art.
Second track - Fat Lip - sees Let It Breathe play a more atmospheric blues rock sound that soon changes to one of weedian style influences. The lyrics aren't the most original but the vocals and hazy riffs move the song nicely to its natural conclusion.

Third track - Greater Than I - opts for a more laid-back Classic Rock sound but the Doom Rock can be heard primarily in the background. The lyrics yet again disappoint slightly but the powerful vocals save the day. This song feels influenced by the classic rock bands of the sixties such as The Doors and Cream. The drumming and bass playing really shine on this track especially when the band decides to play some Earthless-style jam-based Stoner Rock towards the end of the song.

Fourth track - Mauler - is where the album finally embraces a true Doom/Stoner Metal sound with pounding gloomy beats leading to murkier psychedelic riffs. The vocals are kept to a minimum though when they do appear they add an eerie atmosphere.

The final three songs on the album - Blood Relations, Coramoor and Wanderer - sees Let It Breathe carry on playing the heavier Doom Rock/Metal sound with the other different genres of music that appeared on the first few tracks slowly fading into the background. The whole feel and flow of the second part of the album does struggle to match the excitement of the first part. That's my only complaint with the album. Still, Let It Breathe manages to create some stunning heavy atmospheric sounds especially on the final song Wanderer. The production is good and is what you expect from an album such as this.

The music is given time to flow and grow naturally with heavy amounts of loud volume being played for a more dynamic effect. Let It Breathe are going to gain maximum exposure for this album. 

With the band being signed to STB Records. STB Records vinyls always sell out in double quick time. Plus the album speaks for itself. Let It Breathe's debut album has crossover appeal with a lot of different genres being catered for. This album is a spellbinding and powerful Doom Rock/Metal album.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Jadd at Read Lead PR for the promo. Let It Breathe self-titled album will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl from STB Records BandCamp Page and available here as well. from April 28th 2018.

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