Thursday 1 November 2018

Plainride - Life On Ares (Album Review)


Release date: September 21st 2018. Label: Ripple Music. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Life On Ares – Tracklisting

1.A Fiery Demise (Prologue) 01:26
2.El Coyote 06:52
3.Battletoads 03:19
4.Seven Of Spades 01:19
5.Bite Back 06:54
6.Wormhole Society 03:33
7.Texas Labyrinth 05:36
8.Blood On The Crown 04:14
9.Thunder & Awe 03:50
10.Anaximander (And The Riddle Of Origin) 05:02

Members

Leonard Beringer | Bass Guitar
Fabian Klein | Guitar
Max Rebel | Vocals & Guitar
Florian Schlenker | Drums

Review

Life On Ares is the new album by German Psych/Stoner Rockers – Plainride. This is the band’s first full length album release for Ripple Music. Life On Ares is very different to their debut album – Return Of The Jackalope. As the band play a heavier and progressive style of Desert/Stoner Rock music. The album is definitely influenced more by the Desert Rock scene but with a more hard-rocking WEEDIAN style attitude.

It’s perhaps music you’ve heard a thousand times before but that doesn’t stop Plainride creating a wildly exciting ride that is packed full of different sounds. The songs vary in lengths and Plainride perhaps excel the most on the lengthier songs such as El Coyote, Bite Back, Texas Labyrinth and the superb final song - Anaximander (And The Riddle Of Origin).

Plainride still manage to have a few tricks up their sleeves on some of the shorter songs with the music being very direct with heavy Desert/Stoner Rock riffs that obviously draws influences from the classic bands of the scene such as Kyuss and Fu Manchu. Battletoads and Wormhole Society are another two of the albums standout songs.

Plainride do experiment with their overall sound on this album as they include different instruments such as violins, organs and piano into the mix. Quite a brave decision to include those style of instruments on a Stoner Rock album. As they’re more associated with other musical genres. Desert/Stoner Rock is definitely not one of those genres. So KUDOS to Plainride for trying something different.

The vocals from Max are superb and very direct though it’s the music that keeps you fully focused on Plainride’s musical journey. The lyrics are equally as good for the most part. There’s a couple of songs that could have done with more work but that’s my only minor complaint about the album.

Overall, Life On Ares is an album that plays to it’s many strengths and will appeal to fans of Clutch, Fu Manchu, Kyuss and Monster Magnet the most. Obviously this album gets an extra seal of quality with the band being signed to Ripple Music. Perhaps the leading underground label within the Stoner Rock scene.

You know what to do….

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Richard at Sheltered Life PR for the promo. Life On Ares is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl from Ripple Music.

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