Tuesday 20 February 2018

THAL - Reach For The Dragon's Eye (Album Review)


Release date: 16th February 2018. Label: Argonauta Records. Format: CD/DD

Reach For The Dragon's Eye – Tracklisting

1.Rebreather 06:40
2.Under Earth 02:57
3.Her Gods Demand War 06:01
4.Thoughtform 03:48
5.Soulshank 05:55
6.Death of the Sun 04:41
7.Punish 03:20
8.Reach For The Dragon's Eye 04:58

Members

John "Vince Green" Walker - Vocals, Guitars and Bass
Kevin Hartnell - Drums, Guitars and Synth

Review

A lot of things have changed for THAL since their debut album. Newly expanded to two members now and newly signed to Argonauta Records. THAL's new - Reach For The Dragon's Eye - is a more aggressive sounding Stoner Metal album with the band adapting Kyuss/DOWN style Stoner Metal sounds with a classic Heavy Metal approach. THAL are confident from the start with the heavy layered sounds offering a different kind of Psychedelic Desert Rock journey.

The whole journey of the album is one of steel-eyed confidence with the Stoner Metal riffs portraying a band at ease with their own sound. Opening track - Rebreather - is my favourite song on the album as it opens with a cool psychedelic desert/stoner metal riff before John's vocals appear and take you back to the Stoner Metal scene of the nineties where Kyuss and Fu Manchu reigned supreme.

To THAL's credit they manage to create their own style and deliver a more modern sounding hard rock. The other seven songs on the album easily match the addictive vibes of the opening song. The lyrics on the album are superbly written and realised when matched against the heavy stoner metal sounds. As THAL aren't afraid to experiment with their sound. One moment you could be enjoying a straight-forward Stoner Metal riff and then THAL opt for a heavier Grunge/Garage Rock style of music.

The second song - Under Earth - sees THAL adapt a more classic sounding Thin Lizzy approach with their music. Though it's more distorted with the whole atmosphere being slightly dirtier than you originally expect. THAL embrace the sound of 70s Doom Rock in a big way on songs such as Her Gods Demand War, Thoughtform and Death Of The Sun.

If you ever wondered what Kyuss would sound like adapting a classic seventies rock sound then Reach For The Dragon's Eye would be that album. The overall sound of Reach For The Dragon's Eye is very diverse and makes for a bold and superbly entertaining album.

The instrumental work is a major step-up from their debut album and could help THAL establishing their reputation even further within the Stoner Metal scene.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to NeeCee Agency for the promo. The album is available to buy on DD/CD now via Argonauta Records.

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