Release
date: December 08th 2017. Label: Pepper Shaker Records.
Format: CD/DD
On Lunar Highlands – Tracklisting
1.Wrecker's Reunion
Ball 04:59
2.Lost Planet Airmen
04:34
3.Thought It Best To
Cut You Loose 05:32
4.Soap Bar Pick-Up
Joint 03:41
5.The Stalwarts Of
Saltwort Castle 09:30
6.The Working Mind
Of The Creator 03:44
7.Woodhollow Green
12:54
8.Never Fail 04:12
9.Bigger Than Fear
05:43
10.On Lunar
Highlands 08:35
11.The Heavy Hand Of
The Destroyer 04:14
Members
Frank Attard: drums,
percussion, Clavinet, synth, meandering chaos
Paul Attard: guitar,
bass, synth, banjo-mandolin, piano, organ, complications
Dave Schembri:
vocals, harmonica, mellow vibes
Matthew Slager: lead
guitar on 'Never Fail'
Review
Aussie
Psych Doom/Stoner Rockers – Mother Mars – are back with their 4th
album – On Lunar Highlands. This album sees the band venture
further into their 70s sounding Psychedelic Doom persona compared to
previous albums. It maybe a tad overlong at 70 minutes in length but
at least Mother Mars keep you entertained through the epic running
time.
The
music is vibrant, psychedelic and freaky AS HELL from the start.
Opening track – Wrecker's Reunion Ball – is a seedy sounding doom little number with elements of Psychedelic Stoner Rock interacting superbly well with the Blues Rock drone based sounds. The vocals from Dave never disappoint and he's on inspired form here. Taking influence from the bombastic lead singers of the 60s and 70s but with an almighty confident swagger. Mother Mars add swirling noises that allows this track to standout as one of the albums finest tracks.
Opening track – Wrecker's Reunion Ball – is a seedy sounding doom little number with elements of Psychedelic Stoner Rock interacting superbly well with the Blues Rock drone based sounds. The vocals from Dave never disappoint and he's on inspired form here. Taking influence from the bombastic lead singers of the 60s and 70s but with an almighty confident swagger. Mother Mars add swirling noises that allows this track to standout as one of the albums finest tracks.
On
Lunar Highlands progresses onto other great songs such as: Lost
Planet Airmen, Thought It Best To Cut You Loose and Soap Bar Pick-Up
Joint. As the band embrace a more classic rock dynamic with both
their music and lyrical content.
Mother
Mars impressed me the most with the two epic songs (The Stalwarts Of
Saltwort Castle and Woodhollow Green) they've included on the album.
As they enter a world of crazy psychedelic stoner rock that fans of
the classic Black Sabbath sound will love. These two songs contain
perhaps the best sounding “Space Rock” moments and Mother Mars
employ a more “Jam” based style of music.
The
album is perhaps too progressive for it's own
good. Though that's perhaps one of the best things about the album.
As Mother Mars have thrown everything into the mix and have created a
superbly entertaining album that shows you why they are considered
one of Australia's Premier Stoner Rock Bands. On this form, who can
argue with that...
Excellent
and Highly Recommended.
Words
by Steve Howe
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