Release
date: September 25th 2015. Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Formats:
CD/DD/Vinyl
Old
Man Lizard – S/T - Tracklisting
1.Cold
Winter Blues 05:58
2.King
Clone 05:40
3.Fawza
Falih 04:45
4.El
Doctor 06:32
5.Old
Hag 06:15
6.Craniopagus
Parasiticus 08:51
7.A
Gruesome Mess 06:29
Band
Members:
Jack Newnham - guitar/vocals
Gav Senior - bass
Dan Beales - drums/percussion
Review:
Old
Man Lizard return a year or so later with their new S/T album. They
released their debut album Lone Wolf vs Brown Bear last year. This
S/T album is a slightly revised version of a previous EP released
back in 2012. It’s an EP that made me aware of Old Man Lizard’s
talents.
5
of the 7 songs here on this album are from that EP but they’ve been
re-recorded and they sound a whole lot better. It’s good to see
that Old Man Lizard have included two new songs (Craniopagus
Parasiticus and A Gruesome Miss) to give this album a more rounded
and better sounding experience.
How
do you describe Old Man Lizard’s sound. Parts Doom, Sludge, and
Stoner with a neo-country folk twinge. If you dig TAINT, H A R K ,
Torche and even EARTH then that will give you an idea of what to
expect on this album. This album shows that Old Man Lizard is one of
the different breed of UK Sludge/Stoner Rock Bands currently out
there.
Opening track – Cold Winter Blues – is a Sludge/Stoner
driven song with traces of country based folk. It’s a strange
sounding experience for the first few moments or so but when Old Man
Lizard unleash a heavy riff you will be right at home as the
atmosphere will consume you. Jack’s vocals whilst not the most
polished hold their own with some of his more famous contemparies
within the Sludge/Stoner Rock field.
Second
track – King Cone – sees Old Man Lizard opt for a more stripped
back approach with impressive prog rock guitars with the heavy
pounding drums adding a claustrophobic semi-acoustic feel at times.
The sound can be described as very rustic as the country vibe more
than holds it’s own against the heavier sludgier rock rhythms.
Third
track – Fawza Faith – carries on with the addictive
Sludge/Stoner/Doom hybrid sound with Jack’s vocals drifting in and
out at different times. It’s quite a bass heavy affair with the
riffs becoming noisier and more distorted as Old Man Lizard could
give Torche a run for their money.
Fourth
track – El Doctor – is one of the albums stand-out tracks with
the band offering another semi-acoustic number mixed with the heavy
Sludge/Stoner Rock riffs. It’s almost 70% instrumental with Jack’s
vocals only appearing for brief moments. It’s perhaps one of the
albums most reflective and psychedelic tracks and that’s one of the
albums strengths as it doesn’t play by the rules.
Fifth
track – Old Hag – is one of the loudest songs on the album as the
vocals and riffs can be ferocious at times. Sometimes Jack’s vocals
are drowned out by the loud distorted riffs and you can’t tell what
he’s singing. Not to worry though as the music saves the day once
again. The 2nd half of the song holds some of the albums most
exciting riffs as Old Man Lizard become a dangerous power trio that
makes for a thrilling encounter.
Sixth
track - Craniopagus Parasiticus – is the first “new” song on
the album and it’s good to hear actual new material from Old Man
Lizard. This is a deliberate slow-paced song that takes time for the
heavy riffs to arrive. It’s a bluesy/rustic style song as the
Sludge/Stoner Rock atmospherics are there lurking in the background.
Jack’s vocals are heartfelt especially when he sings at the top of
his lungs.
The
last song is – A Gruesome Mess – offers one final round of
distorted noisy Psych based Sludge/Stoner Rock rhythms. It’s
perhaps the least entertaining song on the album. That’s not to say
it’s a bad song. Far from it. I just didn’t feel the emotional
connection that I did with the other songs on the album.
Overall,
Old Man Lizard has made a wise choice re-releasing their debut EP
from 2012. It sounds better than ever and it’s still a unique
sounding experience that got the band noticed in the first place. If
you haven’t heard Old Man Lizard before then this is the best place
to start. Check this album out now. You won’t be disappointed.
Excellent and Highly Recommended.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks
to Claire at Purple Sage PR for the promo. Old Man Lizard – S/T –
is now available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl from Heavy Psych Sounds.
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