Release
date: May 27th 2017. Label: Fuzznik Records. Format:
CD/DD/Vinyl
Groove
Is Black – Tracklisting
1.Gloomy Eggplant
06:40
2.Mega Rollo Booster
03:14
3.Red Kiss 04:01
4.Groove is Black
07:13
5.Jerk 04:48
6.Doofie 03:32
7.No Man's God 07:02
8.Drowned 06:31
Band
Members:
Motor-Vocals
Psilos-Guitars
Choko-Guitars
Mak-Bass
ToPill-Drums
Review
Greek Psych Stoners -
Half Gramme Of Soma (HGOS) return with their heavy and far out trippy
album - Groove Is Black. This is my first time listening to HGOS and
I'm mightily impressed and their take on Psychedelic Stoner Rock
which has quite a progressive feel. Elements of classic desert rock
are merged with leaner stoner rock sounds.
Opening track - Gloomy
Eggplant - has a classic Kyuss sound but with more bombastic vocals
that wouldn't feel out of place from a classic heavy metal band.
Anyway, this track is pulsating song with moments of heavy pounding
Desert/Stoner Metal sounds with flashes of prog rock being played at
different moments on the song. HGOS prove their worth with song alone
on the album and it perfectly sets the tone and atmosphere for the
rest of the album. HGOS have a cool sense of humour especially where
the song titles are concerned showing they don't take themselves too
seriously and are more than happy in playing superb stoner riffs.
Second track - Mega
Rollo Booster - is the band in full CLUTCH mode but still playing
their own distinctive blend of high voltage Stoner Rock. The vocals
from Motor later have echoes of James Hetfield at times especially
with the "YEAH" moments that he shouts from time to time.
The music veers into Blues Rock style riffage and it allows the band
to expand their sound yet again.
Third track - Red Kiss
- is another loud round of Desert/Stoner Rock with the band fully
exploring their hard rock groove to perfection. Vocals once again are
handled superbly well with spiky lyrics to match. The band creates a
more boisterous atmosphere on this song and it allows their music to
flow more easily.
The band becomes more
serious on the excellent fourth track with Groove Is Black being a
more sombre and gloomier affair. The stoner riffs are still there but
the mood is more definitely doom orientated. Desert Rock vibes soon
appear with the band playing a more stripped back sound. This is
perhaps the standout track on the album as it allows HGOS to show off
their musical talents. Vocals from Motor later appear half-way
through and I thought this would disturb the flow of the entire song.
As I was expecting an instrumental song but Motor's vocals add a more
exciting feel to the proceedings.
Four songs in and four
songs to go. This is where I have a minor complaint. I wish Half
Gramme Of Soma experimented with their sound more on the later stages
of the album. I would have liked to hear more variety on some of the
other songs on the album. Though they're all hugely enjoyable tracks
to fully enjoy especially with No Man's God and Drowned.
These two tracks are
the other standout tracks on the album. Both songs containing enough
Stoner Rock passion to power a legendary desert generator party. The
production on the album is superb from start to finish with the album
having a loud and crystal clear sound. Groove Is Black is a truly
exciting and must have album to own for all Stoner Rock/Metal fans
currently out there.
Words
by Steve Howe
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