Release
date: August 15th 2015. Label: Helmet Lady Records.
Formats: DD/Vinyl
Brothers
Of The Nod: Tracklisting
1.Shooting
Guns - Mega Volcano 06:06
2.Shooting
Guns - Halls of Grief
3.Shooting
Guns - Heavy Dissent
4.Hawkeyes
- Hotter Than Ten Hundred Suns 08:57
5.Hawkeyes
- The Charred Skull of McLean Stevenson
6.Hawkeyes
- Orange Monkey (Hotter Reprise)
Shooting
Guns - Band Members:
Keef,
Laramee, Jay Loos, Jim Ginther, Toby Bond, Zach Low, Brennan Barclay
Hawkeyes
– Band Members
Patrick,
Ron, Ryan, Rob, Stacey, Chris
Review:
Two
of Canada’s finest Instrumental Doom Metal Bands have teamed up for
one trippy, psyched out and exciting split record – Brothers Of The
Nod. Shooting Guns and Hawkeyes provide 3 tracks each to thrill you
with. Both bands have created around 18 minutes of trippy,
psychedelic instrumental doom metal magic. Brothers Of The Nod will
be released by rising record label – Helmet Lady Records.
Up
first is Shooting Guns, who’ve been making a name for themselves
recently with their blend of psychedelic doom/stoner metal. There
last release was the soundtrack to acclaimed B-Movie cult classic –
Wolfcop. This record sees Shooting Guns return to their doomier
sounds compared to the ambient/electronic rhymes they created for
Wolfcop OST. Opening track – Mega Volcano - contains fast-paced
riffs where the mood is split between Doom Metal atmospherics and a
constant supply of psychedelic stoner based noises.
Second
track – Halls Of Grief – sees Shooting Guns in a more doom and
gloom mood compared to the opening track. It’s a very atmospheric
piece with the drumming being a constant source of highly volatile
noise and pounding rhythms. This track feels it was recorded from the
“Brotherhood Of The Ram” sessions. So you if you dig that album
like I do then you know what to expect. Space Rock merged with trippy
synth based noises with attitude to match. The ambient/sonic noises
takes Shooting Guns almost back to the land of 80s based TV/Movie
soundtracks as they’ve managed to merge the tone from WolfCop OST
and the heavy doomier psychedelics of Brotherhood Of The Ram. It’s
my fave track from Shooting Guns side of the album.
Third
Track – Heavy Dissent – starts very slowly adding different
layers of glitched based noises with the band playing a more
distinctive ambient style of Psych Doom Rock. It’s another
cosmic/space driven track with the band channelling HAWKWIND and OM
based riffs. A stunning end to Shooting Guns contribution.
Up
next is Psychedelic Doom Riffsters – Hawkeyes. They get the same
rules as Shooting Guns to impress you with. 3 tracks and almost 18
minutes of trippy psychedelic magic. Hawkeyes opening track or 4th
track overall is – Hotter Than Ten Hundred Suns. Hawkeyes music
whilst familiar to Shooting Guns, these guys are way more into Space
Rock and this is a wonderful sounding track that reminded me how good
of a band Hawkeyes actually are. Intricate space/cosmic riffs matched
against the heavier doomier noises they create here. Throw in a
superb electronic piano/organ playing in the background and Hawkeyes
firmly grab your attention. Sonic excellence is achieved.
Fifth
track – The Charred Skull of McLean Stevenson – is another slice
of cosmic based vibes with Hawkeyes unleashing the heaviest track on
the album. It’s perhaps the most psychedelic offering as well. As
the band create noisy and sometimes spectacular loud music to lose
yourself in. Hawkeyes manage to create a twisted doomier vision with
shades of 60s Psychedelic Rock appearing towards the end.
Last
but by no means least is – Orange Monkey (Hotter Reprise) – where
Hawkeyes treat you to one final slab of 60s Psych Rock inspired
Doom/Stoner Metal madness. As the song has a distorted edge to it
which can even be classed as a drone based atmosphere at times.
Whatever you want to call it, this is a fantastic way to end the
album. Two great bands showing you what they can fully do.
Brothers
Of The Nod is a superb split album by two awesome bands you need to
check out now. If you’re into spaced out instrumental doom/stoner
metal then you can’t go wrong with these guys as they prove they’re
two of the best upcoming instrumental rock bands around.
Thanks
to Brotherhood Of The Ram for the promo. Brothers Of The Nod will be
available to buy on DD/Vinyl from Helmet Lady Records from August
15th 2015.
Words
by Steve Howe
Shooting
Guns Links:
Hawkeyes
Links:
