Release
date: February
21st
2020.
Label: Big
Scary Monsters/Art As Catharsis.
Format: DD/Vinyl
Big
Sleeper -
Tracklisting
1.Miami
Funk
2.Under
The Sun
3.Shaker
4.Big
Sleeper
5.Gallonman
6.Doomer
7.Lend
Me A Crushed Ear
8.Slow
Moth
9.Tortoise
Members
Tobie
Anderson - Vocals,
Dave
Jackson - Guitars,
Vlad
Matveikov - Bass,
Sam
Coveney - Drums
Review
InTechnicolour
feel like they come from the American Stoner Rock scene instead of
the UK. As the band play a heavily addictive and stylized version of
Desert Rock, Stoner Rock and Psych Rock that sees the band draw
influence from bands such as Kyuss and Torche in places. Though, the
band add a more Alternative Rock flavour to their overall sound.
Their debut album – Big Sleeper – doesn’t shy away from adding
a deep admiration for the nineties alternative rock/grunge scenes as
well.
The
opening song – Miami Funk – has a classic Stoner/Desert Rock
groove before an Alternative Psychedelic sound appears and the heavy
addictive riffs go into overdrive that brings the early sounds of
Kyuss to the party. The vocals from Tobie are good and quite
easy-going in places. They remind me of Grant Nicholas (FEEDER) in
many ways. Hopefully the band won’t take that as an insult. As I
was huge fan of FEEDER back in my younger years. Anyway,
InTechnicolour do play a heavy blend of Stoner/Sludge Rock on the
later stages of the song.
Second
song – Under The Sun – carries on the Alternative and Upbeat
grooves with the song taking time to bring the heavy riffs to the
party. The song is quite moody and reflective in places but shows a
different side to the band and leaves you wondering in what direction
the album will ultimately end up heading into. As the band keep their
cards to their chest and just let their music do all of the talking.
Third
song – Shaker – is where the band start to play some of their
heavier distorted sludgier sounds with their nineties grunge/alt-rock
influences being there for everyone to feel and hear. The music is
moody yet again but it’s the edgier Psychedelic parts that make
this song really works. As it makes the heavy riffs sound more
precise and direct. The vocals are excellent yet again.
Fourth
song – Big Sleeper – has a slightly gloomier sound compared to
the other songs on the album. The song perhaps feels out of place
when first listening to the album but it soon becomes a more
rewarding experience with each repeated listen. As the song embraces
it’s gloomy and almost Post-Doom outlook on life. The guitars and
music move into many different directions but there is still a
familiar Stadium Rock/Stoner Rock sound to it all.
There
are five other songs on the album but the ones that impressed me the
most are: Gallon Man, Slow Moth and Tortoise. As these songs allow
the band to add a more cinematic groove to their music whilst
bringing different layers of Heavy Stoner Rock to the party.
Tortoise
is the standout and longest song on the album clocking in over ten
minutes in length. The song is also the most experimental offering on
the album with the band adding a Distorted feel to the album with
moments of Drone, Doom, Psych, Sludge and Stoner Metal combining for
one euphoric wild ride towards the end of the song.
Big
Sleeper is such a rich and rewarding album with InTechnicolour
playing many different styles of music within Stoner Rock/Metal. You
need to take your time with this album. There are riffs to be found
when you first listen to the album. However, the real reward is when
you start to delve deeper into this album and discover the superb
lyrics and lush musical imagery the band conjure up on the album that
last leave you wanting more.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks
to Lachlan
at Art As Catharsis for the promo. Big Sleeper
will be available to buy on DD/Vinyl via Big Scary Monsters and Art As Catharsis from February 21st
2020.
Links:
