Release
date: November
14th
2018. Label: Hurricane
Music.
Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Valley
Of The Universe –
Tracklisting
1.Let
The Good Times Roll 04:10
2.I
Only Love You When I'm Loaded 05:07
3.Shermin
Drive 04:00
4.Shitstorm
03:56
5.No
Future 00:59
6.Shermin
Drive Reprise 06:42
7.Preacher
Man 07:38
8.Never
To Return 09:33
Members
Andy
Fernando: Guitar, Bass, Vocals
Brad
Young: Guitar, Bass, Backing Vox
Brant
Bjork: Drums, Backing Vox
Review
Full
Tone Generator is the new band that features Brant Bjork on Drums and
Backing Vocals in their ranks. Well for the studio aspect of the band
anyway. The band recently released their debut album – Valley Of
The Universe – and it plays out like a love letter to the
Desert/Stoner Metal genre where Brant Bjork has become legendary for.
Inspired by bands such as Kyuss, Fu Manchu and some of Brant’s solo
work.
The
album which was produced by Brant Bjork and Bubba Dupree has a darker
tone that you wouldn’t expect from the Desert/Stoner Metal genre.
As the lyrics deal with dark subject matters that even surprised me
especially on the opening two songs – Let The Good Times Roll, I
Only Love You When I’m Loaded. As the songs combine upbeat
Desert/Stoner based melodies with harsh lyrical content. The vocals
from Andy
is what brings this album fully to life. Andy
shows his passion and love for vocalists such as Brant Bjork and John
Garcia.
However
this album has its own direction and ideas that allows Full Tone
Generator to be classed as their own entity. Having one of the scenes
legendary figures helping with the music does help but you wouldn’t
expect the dark journey that Full Tone Generator take you upon on
Brant or Bubba’s other musical projects.
The
music is a mixture of Psych, Fuzz, Stoner, Punk, Desert Rock and Hard
Rock which allows Valley Of The Universe to be completely different
especially on the later stages of the album. Songs such as: Shermin
Drive, Shitstorm
and No Future sees Full Tone Generator adapt a more edgier persona
with the music and lyrics combining for some thrilling Desert/Stoner
Rock moments.
However
it’s with the final two songs where Full Tone Generator impress the
most. As the two songs – Preacher Man and Never To Return – have
some of the best and addictive Stoner riffs I’ve heard this year.
These two songs have the same classic feel and approach that Kyuss
made their own back in the day. This is still Full Tone Generator’s
show and when the psychedelic grooves of Preacher Man finally appear
you’re under their spell. As the song has a dark Blues Rock vibe
with the lyrics telling an intriguing story. However it’s the music
and fantastic grizzled vocals of Andy
that
leave you wanting more of this particular song.
The
final song – Never To Return – is the heaviest and darkest song
on the album with Andy’s
vocals going into the world of Hardcore. It’s quite a stark
contrast to the other songs held on the album but it works
surprisingly well.
The
production on the album is simply fantastic which isn’t surprising
since Brant Bjork and Bubba Dupree produced the album.
Valley
Of The Universe is the type of album why I fell in love with
Desert/Stoner Metal in the first place. As the hazy and heavy
psychedelic sounds of the Desert haven’t sound as good as this for
a very long time. This is an unmissable and must-have album.
Words
by Steve Howe
