Release
date: November
09th
2018.
Label: Napalm
Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Hear
The Rivers
– Tracklisting
1.Let
It Out! 04:46
2.Sweet
Is The Sound 04:07
3.A
Point Of A Secret 04:36
4.Good
Ol´Goat 03:15
5.The
Rumble And The Weight 06:43
6.We
Are The Pawns 04:30
7.Oh
My Bones 02:58
8.In
The Caverns Below 04:12
9.High
Fever 03:02
10.The
Rivers Lullaby 08:01
Members
Tommi
Holappa - Guitar
Sebastian
Olsson - Drums
Hans
Fröhlich - Bass
Arvid
Hällagård – Vocals
Review
Being
a music fan can be an incredibly fulfilling and frustrating
endeavour. Personally, I am pretty consistently amazed by the amazing
array of bands that can avoid my heavy duty, long range musical
radar. I believe it was earlier this year that I found myself
becoming familiarized with the awesome Black Rainbows, and I was
completely dumbfounded as to how I had never heard of them before
their newest record. Well, lo and behold, I have once again found
myself standing in the dark with the equally amazing Greenleaf.
The
band started out as a side project for Dozer guitarist Tommi Holappa
back in 2000 and these guys have just released their 7th full length.
After 20 years it is safe to say Greenleaf is no longer a side
project. Nor should it be. Hear the Rivers is an amazing slab of
fuzzed out garage/psych rock by this Swedish quartet. The band shares
a similar sound and vibe to their Euro brethren Graveyard and
Kadavar, while also pulling some notes from desert rock icons Kyuss
and Texas blues rock masters ZZ Top. Everything about the record
rings resonates with the heart and soul of any fan of rock n roll. It
is masterfully played, excellently recorded and delivers in every way
shape and form.
To
the songs..
From
the opening salvoes of the amazing Let
it Out!
You
know Greenleaf is bringing it. Fuzzed out riffage and driving drums
carry this classic rock tune. Sweet
is the Sound brings
a serious groove that is reminiscent of times of early Queens of the
Stone Age. The QOTSA vibe continues on my personal favorite track
from the record. A
Point of a Secret
has
a slinky but powerful feel and delivers an amazing chorus that you
will be singing to yourself for weeks to come.
A big, raucous riff
brings in the stomp of Good
Ol’ Goat, a
straight ahead rocker that jams. While the band touches on darker
subject matter throughout the record, their ability to sugar coat it
with hooks and melodies makes the darkness a little bit brighter.
However, the next two tracks bring a one-two punch of no frills
heaviness, The
Rumble and the Weight
is
a big heavy rock song and We
are the Pawns,
while also bringing the heavy, has a bit of a slower tempo and a more
ominous feel.
Oh
My Bones circles
back to the more straightforward retro rock feel and continues the
same vibe into the awesome, In
the Caverns Below. A
fuzzed out homage to 60’s rock. The band bring the high octane,
rock n rolla feel with High
Fever before
closing out with 8+ minute epic closing track, The
Rivers Lullaby.
With
Hear the Rivers, Greenleaf have given us the record that all wish The
Sword or Queens of the Stone Age could, or should be delivering. But
there is no point in wishing on a pipe dream or pining for what could
have. Greenleaf have delivered the goods in spades with their newest
opus. Everyone should do themselves a favor and track this record
down and support the hell out of these guys. We can’t let a band
this good become a side project again. Dig on This!
Instagram @alltheghoststhathauntyou
Words by Todd Stealey
Hear The Rivers is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Napalm Records.
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