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.
Links:
