Release
date: December 14th 2017. Label: Vault Relics. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
And
Now What - Tracklisting
1.Soul on Fire
2.Her Ride
3.2day
4.Show Me
5.Isolated
6.Out Of Me
7.Unknown Destination
Members
Kosmas Ristas - THE
frontman and all
Doukas Kostoglou -
guitars and beer
Mitsos Angelakis -
drums with extra cowbell
Stef Dimou - bass
and weird noises
Review
Greek
Stoner Rockers Purple Dino return with a new album called - And Now
What. This album sees the band changing their style of music ever so
slightly with influences diverse as TOOL making a welcome appearance.
It's still the familiar Desert/Punk/Stoner Rock sounds of the band
but the music is very progressive and experimental in places.
The
opening track - Soul On Fire - feels that Purple Dino are back to
normal business of creating high energy Desert/Stoner Rock. That
maybe for this song but enjoy it while it lasts as the band start to
create a more daring and adventurous sound.
Second
track - Her Ride - opens with a jazz based riff before moving on to a
wilder and looser style of Stoner Rock/Metal. The song does take it's
time in finding it's groove and can feel lacklustre at times but the
band try their hand at new sounds on this track. The vocals from
Kosmas offer a heavy mixture of different styles that is matched
superbly well with the music. The music is your familiar style of
Desert /Stoner Rock but at least Purple Dino add a more progressive
groove with psychedelic noises appearing throughout.
Third
track - 2day - sees Purple Dino opt for a Gonzo-Surf-Punk-Psych
sound. It's a very cool sound which does take some time to fully
become accustomed to. When the heavy Stoner sounds appear, Purple
Dino become a more focused and intriguing band. This is where the
band start to experiment with the sound on their album with the band
taking influence from RATM as the song becomes more aggressive with
each passing second.
The
other songs of the album sees Purple Dino take a more experimental
approach as they embrace elements of Noise Rock, Punk, Psych, Prog
Rock and even Thrash. Songs such as Show Me and Isolated sees the
album become ever more darker and progressive. The last two songs on
the album Out Of Me and Unknown Destination is perhaps the band have
taken the biggest creative risks with the album. As the album
transforms into a heavier progressive sound that you would expect
from TOOL and not a band such as Purple Dino.
The
band touch upon some hard hitting subject matters. It shouldn't
really work but the band show a real dynamic flair of merging the
different sounds held on the album. This is still primarily a Stoner
Metal album but Purple Dino prove that it doesn't have to follow the
standard route that other bands seem to follow. Purple Dino have
embraced a more daring approach on this album.
The
album cover can be very misleading as if you're expecting a jovial
and upbeat Stoner Metal album then you may walk away highly
disappointed. Purple Dino maybe worried what long-time fans of the
band may think of their new sound. I would tell them there's nothing
to worry about. As this album manages to contain the familiar sounds
the band has become well known for. However be prepared to expect a
more experimental sound that may take a few listens to fully
appreciate.
The
production is handled superbly well as the album sounds angry and
loud from the start. And Now What is an album that surprised myself
in so many different ways. Purple Dino have struck gold with this
record. It may not be to everyone's tastes though this is still an
album that could enhance Purple Dino's reputation onto greater
heights.
Words
by Steve Howe
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