Wednesday 30 December 2015

OAK - S/T (EP Review)


Release date: November 17th 2015. Label: Self Released Format: DD

OAK – S/T – Tracklisting

1.All Above 04:51
2.Queen Of This Land 02:41
3.Ride With Me 07:18
4.Dissolve 05:17

Band Members:

Vocals - Andy
Guitar - Kevin
Bass - Scott
Drums - Sergiu

Review:

Heavy Desert/Stoner Rock Band – OAK – hail from London, UK and it seems they're a fairly new band only starting in April 2015. The guys have just released their debut S/T EP and it's a blast of good old fashioned Desert/Stoner Rock riffs with the right amount of Psych Rock thrown in for good measure.

Fans of Kyuss, QOTSA and Truckfighters will no doubt find much to enjoy here as OAK create some heavy psych riffs with a hint of Doom appearing here and there. Opening track - All Above – is the perfect introduction from the band as it shows you what they're all about. Heavy and trippy sounds blended with some damn fine spaced out riffs. Lead vocalist – Andy – has fire in his belly as he shouts, sings and screams with supreme confidence. Sure he doesn't have the most polished of vocals but it's the perfect fir for OAK's blend of Stoner Rock.

Second track – Queen Of This Land – reminds me of UK based Sludge/Noise Rockers – Bad Guys especially with the Punk based delivery of the guitars and Andy's demonic out of control vocals. It has shades of 90s Alt Rock appearing from time to time but it's a great song to let out any pent up aggression you may have.

Third track – Ride With Me – is the best song on the album. A blues rock laiden Psych/Doom/Stoner Rock epic that contains layers of different noises to prove OAK have something special about them. Andy's vocals once again don't seem the natural fit at first but give it time and he will soon win you round. Though it's the riffs that will hold your attention here as OAK create some heavy fucked up moments you want to hear over and over again.

The final track – Dissolve – is a more straight-forward Psych/Desert Rock affair with the band opting for a more stripped back approach compared to the other songs. It's perhaps Andy's weakest vocal performance on the EP. He still delivers a very solid performance but I preferred Andy's vocals on the other tracks when he was loud and full of angry confidence. Apart from that minor complaint this is a great way to end the EP with. As OAK leave you begging for more. It would have been great if the band included one more song but it's always good for a band leaving you wanting more. Maybe on the next EP or hopefully full length record.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp