Wednesday 22 November 2017

Sun Dance - Manitou (Album Review)


Release date: December 10th 2017. Label: Self Released. Format: CD/DD

Manitou - Tracklisting

1.Last ritual
2.Join the circle
3.Into the sky
4.Blind crows
5.Manitou
6.Answer

Members

Jan Gajewski - vocal
Jacek Szczepan - guitar
Adam Gajewski - guitar
Kacper Półchłopek - bass
Jakub Tokarz - drums

Review

Polish Doom/Stoner collective Sun Dance debut album is a mighty slab of Psychedelic, Doom, Grunge and Stoner Rock. Oh yeah, the band do become very spaced out at times with the music having a highly addictive edge. Did I say that Manitou is also passionately loud as well.

Opening track - Last Ritual - sees the band embracing a more nineties grunge/stoner metal sound. The vocals from Jan impress from the start as he has a very grizzled approach to his vocals. The music is quite progressive in parts as Sun Dance perfectly captures the psychedelic/spaced out theatrics of their sound. The lyrics are good for the most part with the band focusing on their music more. Taking cues from bands such as Kyuss and Soundgarden at times. It's good to see Sun Dance venture into heavier Doom Metal territory towards the end of the song.

Second track - Join The Circle - is a more laid back affair for the first few moments before a heavier grungier sound that appears. It can be very blues rock based at times. However Sun Dance like the sound of their heavy riffs. It's a good approach with the band moving between the quieter and heavier moments of the album. There is some familiar Truckfighters style FUZZ lurking in the background. Most of the songs on this album last around six to nine minutes in length. Sun Dance use that time wisely for each of the songs held on the album. As they build vast and epic progressive landscapes of swirling Doom/Stoner/Grunge/Psych noises. There is a ton of cool riffs waiting to be discovered here. With this track featuring some of the best guitar riffs on the entire album.

The other four songs on the album follow a similar path with Into The Sky, Manitou and Answer being the main highlights. Manitou is where Sun Dance impresses the most. As they create a nine minute epic song that moves effortlessly from one different sound to the next. You have to admire Sun Dance's creativity on this album and especially how they merge the different sounds together.

Sometimes the album has quite an honest and original feel. The production of the album is vibrant and sharp throughout. As this allows Sun Dance to play their music at a constantly high level.

Manitou is a genuinely exciting and brilliantly entertaining album that should rightly be appreciated across the Doom, Stoner, Psych and Grunge circles. Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Sun Dance for the promo. Manitou will be available to buy on CD/DD from December 10th 2017.

Links: