Tuesday, 8 October 2019

Howling Giant - The Space Between Worlds (Album Review)


Release date: September 27th 2019. Label: Blues Funeral Recordings. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

The Space Between Worlds – Tracklisting

1.Comet Rider 04:30
2.Nomad 05:10
3.Ghosts in The Well 02:42
4.The River Guide 05:43
5.Ice Castle 04:37
6.Cybermancer and The Doomsday Express 04:04
7.Everlight 07:57
8.The Orb 07:08
9.Stone Giant 06:17

Members

Sebastian Baltes – Bass/Vocals
Tom Polzine – Guitar/Vocals
Zach Wheeler – Drums/Vocals

Review

The Space Between Worlds is the eagerly awaited new album from Psychedelic and Spaced Out Stoner Rockers – Howling Giant. The band have been making a name for themselves over the last few years with their blend of intergalactic based tales of Psychedelic Stoner Rock/Metal. Taking influence from bands such as Elder, Baroness, Summoner and Mastodon but putting their own spin on the Psychedelic Stoner Rock/Metal sound.

This album is a concept album which allows Howling Giant to weave a totally out there story that fits in with their Psychedelic Heavy Grooves with strands of Progressive Rock holding everything together.

The album has an easy-going atmosphere which allows the band to draw the listeners in with their blend of Spaced Out Rock with opening song Comet Rider setting the whole tone and atmosphere for the whole album. The vocals can sound quite “poppy” in places but it’s quite an addictive style of vocals from who is the main vocalist of the band. It’s hard to tell as the band all share vocal duties through different stages of the album. There are some fantastic vocal harmonies that form some of the best parts of the album.

Songs such as Nomad, Ghosts In The Well, The River Guide, Cybermancer and The Doomsday Express – all show the natural progression Howling Giant have made from releasing their acclaimed EP’s over the years. Howling Giant build epic stories through each song and the powerful Psychedelic Stoner Rock/Metal riffs bring those lyrics to life with vivid imagination.

The music is the main selling point with Howling Giant playing some of the best spaced out grooves you’ll hear this year. The album can be exceptionally heavy one moment and quite peaceful the next with the band adapting Ambient Post-Rock passages for certain parts of the album.

The standout part of the album has to be the final 3 songs – Everlight, Orb and Stone Giant – as everything comes together for a truly cinematic sounding experience with epic riffs from start to finish.

Overall, Howling Giant have released an epic sounding album with The Space Between Worlds that makes this one of the best albums of 2019. You’ll be insane to miss this huge sounding album.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Jadd at Red Lead for the promo. The Space Between Worlds is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Blues Funeral Recordings now.

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