Release
date: July 30th 2016. Label: Self Released. Format: CD/DD
The
Search – Tracklisting
Autumn
Dream
Harbinger
Planet
Void
Paragon
Of Virtue
The
Search
Palmdale
Band
Members:
Jan
Kimmel (El Janni) - Guitar, Nord, Vocals
Maurice
Eggenschwiler - Guitar, Vocals
Cory
Cousins - Drums
Gabriel
Katz - Bass
Review:
Blues
Funeral debut album – The Search – is an album that doesn’t
play by the rules as the band play as many different genres they can
lay their hands on. Let’s make a list – Prog, Doom, Stoner,
Psych, Blues, Hard Rock and Heavy Metal. It’s a very retro sounding
album but made accessible for a more modern audience.
Opening
track – Autumn Dream – is the first track to get you accustomed
with Blues Funeral music. A progressive psychedelic odyssey that will
have you thinking of bands such as Thin Lizzy, Deep Purple and Jethro
Tull in some respects especially with the more folk based moments. It
has a doom rock/metal vibe running throughout the song and most of
the album. The vocals may feel out of place but give it time as Blues
Funeral will soon win you over.
Second
track – Harbinger – evokes the classic Thin Lizzy duelling
signature guitars but on a more progressive scale. The vocals are
handled superbly well with some interesting dual aspects starting to
appear. The lyrics could have done with more work but it’s the
riffs that hold your attention as the band effortlessly drifts from
Psych, Classic Rock to old-school Heavy Metal.
Third
track – Planet Void – is where you start to hear some crazy
Psych/ Doom/Stoner based sounds buried under the classic style of
Hard Rock/Heavy Metal. Some people may say the band play it too safe
with their music. Maybe but you can’t deny how great it sounds.
These guys are seasoned pros and they know how to get the job done.
The progressive NWOBHM vibe is what keeps the momentum going but the
vocals run a close second as this song could be classed as the best
song on the album.
The
other three songs (Paragon Of Virtue, The Search and Palmdale) follow
the same path as the opening three tracks but the band becomes a
little more inventive with their music. The organs are simply sublime
on the later stages on the album especially of Paragon Of Virtue as
the band tries their hand at almost Gothic/Occult style rock. Paragon
Of Virtue is perhaps where Blues Funeral starts to feel more
comfortable with their sound.
The
album is by no means original but these guys make you forget all that
and make you feel you’re listening to a good old fashioned classic
Hard Rock/Heavy Metal album. There’s a wide range of superb riffs
waiting to be discovered as the guys love playing their epic
progressive riffs. Blues Funeral even try their hand at Mastodon
(Leviathan era) proggy riffs on The Search but with a more jazz based
feel.
The
organs yet again steal the show on The Search but it’s still a
group effort as Blues Funeral excels creating an album suffering from
a major identity crisis. The Search doesn’t know what type of album
it wants to be: Classic Rock, Hard Rock, Prog Metal, Doom Metal or
Heavy Metal. That’s the beauty of this album. You’re treated to
so many different sounds and moods it’s virtually impossible to be
bored by this album. It’s one crazy wild ride if you’re fan of
all things Hard Rock and Heavy Metal with a few hidden surprises
along the way.
The
Search is a wonderful debut album and it’s one that will soon have
you under its weird magical spell.
Words
by Steve Howe
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