Release
date: 9th
February 2018. Label: Self Released. Format: DD
Visitations
– Tracklisting
1.Sons
of Belial 04:35
2.Death March 04:46
3.Lightworker 04:15
4.Targeted 04:45
5.Till You Come Down
05:08
6.Hammerburn 04:16
7.Sky Peoples Son
06:22
8.Fire In The Sky
08:08
9.I Want To Leave
05:45
Members
Craig Peura - Vocals
and Guitars
Patrick Queenan -
Drums
Paul Gaughran - Bass
Review
The
first thing that drew me to Sundrifter’s second full length album –
Visitations – was the awesome artwork by the legendary Branca
Studios. The artwork is based on the old Atari 2600 Video Cartridges
from the seventies/eighties. (You kids should ask your folks on what
games systems we had growing up). Anyway back to the album. So what
can you expect with Visitations and Sundrifter’s overall sound.
You
can expect a heavy and different mix of Desert Rock, Stoner Rock and
top-heavy Psychedelic Space Rock sounds. It’s quite an original
sound in places. As I haven’t heard many Desert Rock bands merging
Psychedelic Space Rock together.
The
result is quite exciting with the opening song Sons Of Belial –
offering a convincing style of loud riffs and passionate vocals. The
music is drenched in heavy FUZZ sounds and the Desert/Stoner Rock
elements only draw you into Sundrifter’s world. The band is
comprised of three musicians and takes up the classic “power-trio”
route. Though are some parts of the album where the band sounds like
they have more members.
The
vocals have that classic Desert/Stoner rock vibe with Craig's vocals
taking influence from the legendary vocalists from the Stoner Metal
scene over the last twenty five years or so. Visitations has nine
tracks in total and every one of them simply sound fantastic. Songs
such as: Death March, Lightworker, Targeted, Till You Come Down, Sky
Peoples Son and Fire In The Sky offering the heaviest and exciting
parts of the album.
I
didn’t really want to do a song by song review as the album flows
brilliantly and naturally throughout. It feels like that the band
created one epic song but split into nine individual chapters. The
lyrics are superb throughout as well. With Sundrifter putting a lot
of thought and effort into the overall context of the lyrics.
Though
it’s the music that’s the main attraction here. As Sundrifter
create an exciting sound that will appeal to fans of Kyuss, QOTSA, Fu
Manchu, Truckfighters and fellow Boston riffsters – Summoner.
Visitations
production is superbly realised and handled from start to finish. The
mixture of different sounds that Sundrifter possess here will surely
help them gain a bigger audience within the Psych/Desert/Stoner Rock
spectrum. I’m hoping this album is given the respect it deserves
and be given a Vinyl Release in the future. I’ve heard so many good
albums this year so far and I’m happy to state now that Visitations
will end up as one of the best Stoner Rock/Metal albums I’ll hear
this year.
Visitations
is simply a must have album and one that you will be listening to for
a very long time come.
Excellent
and Highly Recommended.
Words
by Steve Howe
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