Release
date: March 02nd 2017. Label: Self Released. Format: DD
The
Sounds Of Earth – Tracklisting
1.Rock & Roll
Jubilee 02:52
2.Psy Walker 03:16
3.I Am the Temple
03:26
4.Albatross (Nobody
Loves an) 04:05
5.Spiderzilla (feat.
Snake from Voivod) 02:40
Members:
Matt Demon: drums
Alex Leclerc: guitar
Vincent Peake: bass/vocals
Stéphane Vigeant: guitar
Review
Holy Shit. Now this is
a nice surprise. A new EP from Canadian Stoners – Floating Widget.
I loved their 2004 debut album – Praises To The Riff Monolith –
back in the day. The band haven't released anything since then. I
thought they split up until the band contacted me recently to review
their new EP. I was thinking - “No, it can't be the same band.
They've been missing for 13
years”.
I investigated further
and it's the same band. Though with a new vocalist. Damn. If you
don't know who Floating Widget are then get with the program. They
are a kick ass Psych Stoner Rock band in the vein of Kyuss and other
legendary Stoner bands of the day. Their new EP - The Sounds Of
Earth – has a more spaced out sound though the familiar riffs of
Floating Widget are here to enjoy especially if you're fan like
myself.
Opening track – Rock
& Roll Jubilee – is a classic style of Desert Rock/Stoner Rock
grooves with a modern day sensibility. Vincent on vocals oozes
confidences as he spits and chews his way some fantastic lyrics. The
riffs will transport you back to the 90s when Stoner Rock/Metal was
in it's element.
Second track – Psy
Walker – is my fave track as this what Kyuss would sound like if
they were still playing to this day. The fuzzy desert grooves match
perfectly with Vincent's vocals but it's the frantic drumming of Matt
that impressed me the most. Matt's drumming holds everything together
as the riffs build upon Matt's drumming and Vincent's vocals have a
classic feel to them.
Third track – I Am
The Temple – is a more straight-forward Stoner Rock/Metal song with
the band opting for a faster approach and one that sees the band
playing a more stylized Space Rock sound. It's another winning track
from these hugely talented stoners.
The final two tracks –
Albatross (Nobody Loves On) and Spiderzilla – offer perhaps the
heaviest moments on the EP. Especially Spiderzilla as that's more of
a heavy metal number with a special guest appearance featuring Snake
from Voivod.
It's a shame that the
EP is s only on 16 minutes. We've waited such a long time for a new
record. I'm hoping a full length album will be released sooner than
later. I'm 40 years old now. I don't want to be waiting for a
Tool-esque length for album no 2. Just saying guys....
Anyway, The Sounds Of
Earth is a must have release for all serious Desert/Stoner Rock fans.
Plain and Simple.
Words
by Steve Howe