Wednesday 20 November 2019

Rainbows Are Free - Head Pains (Album Review) And Song Premiere Of COVERED IN DAWN



Release date: November 29th 2019. Label: Argonauta Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Head Pains – Tracklisting

1.The Sound Inside
2.Electricity on Wax
3.Shapeshifter
4.Covered In Dawn
5.Lady of the Woods/Psychonaut
6.The Nile Song
7.A Penny's Worth
8.Eunice

Members

Brandon Kistler - Vocals
Richie Tarver - Lead Guitar/Synth/Backup Vocals
Joey Powell - Guitars
Jason Smith - Bass/Piano
Bobby Onspaugh - Drums/Auxiliary Percussion

Review

Head Pains is the new album from Psychedelic Stoner Rockers – Rainbows Are Free – and this is my first time listening to the band. I have heard of the band before but never give them my full attention until this album. Rainbows Are Free are considered a Stoner Rock/Metal band but that only tells a small part of the band’s story. As they play a lot more different styles on this album such as Grunge, Space Rock, Hard Rock and Progressive Rock.

Head Pains is an album that takes many wild creative chances with not only the music but also the production and lyrics as well. Rainbows Are Free are a force of nature of this album with lush psychedelic sounds leading the way and then the band move into another unexpected direction. So be prepared for an album that’s not afraid to creative risks and maybe frustrate you along the way and still demanding your full attention.

Opening song – The Sound Inside – is a heavy and atmospheric style of Psychedelic Stoner Rock with Grunge influences appearing from the start. The Ambient Post-Stoner grooves remind myself of early Monster Magnet in many ways before the band settle for their own stylish brand of Stoner Rock. The vocals have a classic Grunge feel but soon turn into a heavier Stoner based presence with a gloomy outlook. The music is what sells this song with the band playing a stunning array of Stoner Rock/Metal grooves.

Second song – Electricity On Wax – is where the band start playing an unexpected and highly experimental style of Stoner Rock/Metal with the vocals having quite an Alternative feel to them. The music taps into that familiar Monster Magnet Space Rock riff but soon changes into the band’s own style of high energy based music.

Third song – Shapeshifter – opens with a Doom/Drone sound before Rainbows Are Free play a more classic style of Stoner Rock with echoes of that early Doom/Drone groove starting to settle in the background. The song leads upto a heavier style of music for the final few moments. It’s good to hear the band playing a more restrained style of music for the majority of the song. The heavier moments are exciting to hear but I enjoyed the first half of the song more.

Fourth song – Covered In Dawn – is one of the standout songs on the album as everything fits right into place with excellent vocals matching the groovy psychedelic sounds for a more spaced out effort from the band. The vocals are different and quite refreshing on this song.

Rainbows Are Free are just as exciting on the second half of the album with songs such as: Lady Of The Woods/Psychonaut, Nile Song and Eunice leading the way for the band to experiment with their Stoner Rock/Metal sound even further.

I can’t compare this album to the bands previous output as I haven’t had the chance to listen to them yet. Though I can say as a first time listener that Head Pains is a challenging album to listen to but it’s also one that’s a refreshing change of pace from the usual Stoner Rock/Metal albums currently doing the rounds. Rainbows Are Free play by their own rules and this album proves why you should invite yourself to the band’s crazy and unique sounding world.

Words by Steve Howe

You can hear a premiere of the new song Covered In Dawn with this groovy video premiere.


Thanks to Mona at All Noir PR for the promo. Head Pains will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Argonauta Records from November 29th 2019.

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