Release
date: October 05th 2015. Label: Wasted State Records. Formats:
DD/Vinyl
Leatherhead
– Tracklisting
1.Rats
In The Walls 03:20
2.Golden
Hoarde 04:08
3.Limit
04:06
4.Midnight
02:20
5.Silence
03:06
6.Locust
Man 04:12
7.The
Ballad Of Bella Rose 04:40
8.Spite
Night 04:34
9.Idol
Of Many Hands 04:55
10.Colony
04:54
11.The
Boy With Scorn In His Pride 03:06
12.The
Stranger - Digital Only Bonus Track 05:40
Band
Members:
Stu
Gordon - Guitar/Vocals
Toni
Martone - Bass/Vocals
Michael
Branagh - Drums/Vocals
Review:
Gareeda’s
style of Stoner Rock has a vintage sound to it especially where the
riffs are concerned. It’s a pumped up fast-paced Stoner Rock
riff-fest that packs a mean punch. Gareeda manage to create their own
Stoner Rock sound whilst paying homage to some of their Stoner Rock
heroes past and present.
Opening
track – Rats In The Wall – starts with a blazing psych/stoner
riff that’s lean, mean and fast as hell. The vocals have a slight
Foo Fighters energy about them. It’s a great style of music as it
instantly draws you in with the heavy pounding rhythms venturing into
Sludge Rock territory. The band is clearly having fun here on this
song as they create a party atmosphere with the music being played
for the sheer hell of it.
Second
track – Golden Hoarde – is another fantastic sounding song with
the band giving Red Fang a run for their money especially with the
Stoner/Sludge Rock delivery of the guitars. Gareeda have written some
exciting riffs here as this song has some impressive guitar solos and
it makes the album a more exciting listen especially when the band
unleash some heavy psych stoner riffs.
Third
track – Limit – is a more laid-back and stripped back sound
compared to the other tracks. It’s more of an Alt-Rock song as
Gareeda wisely keep the volume to a minimum level for the first
minute or so. Then the music returns to the heavy Sludge/Stoner Rock
sound with the vocals being very hard to understand at times as the
riffs drown them out. It’s a good song but one I feel that could of
been better if they turned down the guitars and adding more volume to
the vocals.
Fourth
track – Midnight – is a slow-paced almost acoustic number that
has a gloomy atmosphere. It feels quite jazzy at times with shades of
Stoner Rock lurking in the background. I dig this song as it’s a
simple piece but it has some interesting ideas and sounds that stay
with you.
Fifth
track – Silence – is anything but as Gareeda return to the heavy psych stoner sounds from the albums opening two tracks. The vocals
take a darker turn which I didn’t expect. More Sludge Rock than
Stoner but the band keep the mood very 90s Alt Rock with a hint of
Grunge. Very schizophrenic at times but perhaps one of the albums
more exciting songs. A weird and wonderful style that shows Gareeda
can be a very dark band when the mood calls for it.
Sixth
track – Locust Man – will bring back memories of QOTSA classic –
Go With The Flow – as it has the same playful and addictive energy
of that classic song. Gareeda add a more Noise Rock feel when the
music starts to speed up. Add lyrics you will be singing along to for
days on end and you have perhaps the albums standout track. The
vocals are superb as they keep you entertained through out. Though
it’s when Gareeda start playing epic guitar solos is where the song
gets your heart pumping at a fast rate.
Gareeda
have 5 more songs for you to contend with and they’re just as
exciting and as heavier than the first half of the album. Especially
on songs such as The Ballad Of Bella Rose, Spite Night and Colony.
The production is handled superbly well as you’re instantly drawn
into Gareeda’s world where the riff is KING!!! - If you dig Red
Fang and QOTSA then Gareeda is a band you need to check out now as
Leatherhead is an excellent album from start to finish.
Thanks
to Wasted State Records and Gareeda for the promo. Leatherhead is
available to buy now on DD/Vinyl from Wasted State Records.
Words
by Steve Howe
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