Wednesday 16 March 2016

Choke The Palm Tree - The Clearing (Album Review)


Release date: March 18th 2016. Label: Self Released. Format: DD

The Clearing – Tracklisting

Olympus Mons
Phonophobia
Bengalore
Bob
Pressure
Radical
Mindmower
The Bell
Gonzo
The Goat
Gargantua

Band Members:

Fabian - Guitar and Vocals
Roman - Drums and Vocals

Review:

Choke The Palm Tree’s third album – The Clearing is a loud and heavy fusion of Sludge, Stoner and Blues Rock. This is the first time I’ve heard these guys and I’m very impressed with their new album. As it contains the right amount of loud riffs with the quieter and slower paced Blues Rock vibes. The vocals are what you expect from a band such as Choke The Palm Tree. Loud, vibrant and quite brash at times.

You certainly get your monies worth with eleven tracks on the album as The Clearing will keep you entertained through out. It’s hard to compare these guys to other bands as they definitely have their own sound. Opening tracks Olympus Mons, Phonophobia and Bengalore are heavy sludgy affairs with the band focusing more on volume than actual lyrical content. The vocals can be under-produced at times compared to the fast-paced and heavy sounding riffs. Actually I may have been wrong about the vocals as after listening to this album a few times I’m beginning to enjoy the vocals more and more. It may take you a few listens to get used to the change of direction with the vocals. Sometimes clean and other times slightly demonic.

It’s best not to worry what the band are actually singing about and just enjoy the great music the band have created here. It’s loud, fast, violent and most of all FUN. Songs such as Bob, Pressure, Radical and Gonzo explores the heavier sludge grooves from Choke The Palm Tree and perhaps offer the albums exciting and heaviest moments.

The production on the album is superb through out. With the band being three albums into their career I feel this could be the album that finally gets them noticed by a much wider audience. The Clearing is an album I didn’t expect to like as I heard a few a tracks originally and I wasn’t convinced. Now, given time with multiple listens and more time to focus on the music, The Clearing is an exciting and challenging album to listen to. Choke The Palm Tree don’t stick to the usual genre conventions as they splice different sounds on various parts of the album. Though it’s firmly rooted in Sludge/Stoner Metal territory. Otherwise, The Clearing is an excellent album and one you should all check out. Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Choke The Palm Tree for the promo. The Clearing will be available to buy on DD from March 18th 2016.

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