Release
date: July
06th
2018. Label: Hevisike
Records.
Format: CD/DD
Ballads
Of The Godless
– Tracklisting
Devilswine
Screaming
Sun
Temple
Of The Acidwolf
S.J.D.
Chemtrail
Blues
McQueen
The
Hunted
Mother
Of God
Members
Vocals
– Jimi Coppack
Guitar
– Sam Orr
Bass
– The Bear
Drums
– Dan Amati
The
Lowdown
1968
return with their debut full length album - Ballads Of The Godless.
The band released their debut EP to minor critical acclaim last year
and that release showed how 1968 sound was very hard to define.
Ballads Of The Godless sees 1968 opt for a more straightforward sound
that merges elements of Psych, Classic Rock, Stoner Rock and Grunge.
The primary influences for the band on this album seems to be Kyuss
and Alice In Chains.
Opening
track - Devilswine - has a twisted Kyuss Desert/Stoner Rock sound but
with Alice In Chains style vocals and dark gloomy lyrics that has the
band creating heavy FUZZ based sound. 1968 add a heavy psychedelic
groove to their music and the album revels in it's gloriously heavy
Grunge/Stoner Rock sound.
Second
song - Screaming Sun - carries on the same psychedelic sound with the
band adding soulful vocals that soon builds upto a more volatile
atmosphere. You can hear elements of classic sounding Truckfighters
style FUZZ but the band adds a more doomier feel with the bleak and
reflective lyrics contained within the song.
Third
track - Temple Of The Acidwolf - is where the album becomes way too
trippy and psychedelic compared
to other songs on the album.
The band counter balance this with huge sounding Layne Staley
inspired vocals and this allows 1968 to create the best song on the
album. This is gloriously heavy and full of different progressive
sounds that leave you wanting more.
Fourth
song - S.I.D. - is an acoustic number that allows the band to play a
more soothing style of music. The second half of the album follows
the same path with 1968 focusing more on their Psychedelic Heavy
Sound. The standout songs on the second half have to be: McQueen and
Hunted - as this is where the band thrive creating a more distorted
and drone based sound. You can even here elements of Classic Rock and
Blues Rock being played on different parts of the album.
1968
manage to create highly original music of their own. Especially when
they play a more distinctive psychedelic rock/metal groove. Ballads
Of The Godless is an album that has something for everyone and one
that has everlasting appeal across the whole Hard Rock/Heavy Metal
spectrum.
If
you're a fan of Psych, Classic, Desert Rock, Grunge and Stoner Rock
then Ballads Of The Godless is as good as it gets. An outstanding
record.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks
to Curtis at Dewar PR for the promo. Ballads Of The Godless will be
available to buy on CD/DD via Hevisike Records from July 06th
2018.
Links:
