Release
date: April 3rd
2020. Label: Kozmik
Artifactz.
Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
It’s
Just A Ride –
Tracklisting
1.It's
Just a Ride 06:48
2.Run
& Hide 03:40
3.She
Was 06:28
4.We
the Cancer 09:03
5.Will
They Forgive Us? 06:16
6.The
Writing on the Wall 07:41
Members
Adam
Holt - Guitar/Vocals
Jon
Holt - Drums
Iain
Thomson - Bass
Review
I
kinda expected Hair Of The Dog’s new album – It’s
Just
A Ride – to partially use a speech by legendary and much missed
comedian – Bill Hicks – and the album does open his with his
classic “Just A Ride” monologue for the stunning opening title
track. What follows next is the band getting down to business of
playing a more stripped back style of 70s Prog/Stoner Rock with a
heavy blues groove that has shades of Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath
attached.
This
album is less polished than their previous 3 albums and sees the band
returning to their Hard Rock roots with a more simplistic approach
especially where the production of the album is concerned. That’s
not a bad thing and the album does sound great but with a vintage
quality to it all. It’s
Just A Ride flirts with dangerous Hard Rock Riffs and Soulful
Melodies matched against the Classic Rock vocals of Adam Holt. The
album does move into Psychedelic Stoner Rock territory and these
provide the albums heaviest and finest moments which sees Hair Of The
Dog call on their many years of experience of playing together and
put to great use.
If
you dig the heavy and hazy classic sounds of 70s Psychedelic Rock and
Hard Rock or if you’re a long-time fan of the band then you know
what to expect from these guys. Hair Of The Dog always deliver the
goods and this album is no exception with the band writing a fine
array of different styles of music to drown your soul and hearing
with.
The
other songs on the album such as: Run & Hide, She Was, We The
Cancer and The Writing On The Wall, impressed myself the most with
Hair Of The Dog exploring a different side that I hadn’t heard
before. Screeching Progressive Guitars on Run & Hide offer a more
experimental sound whilst retaining the trademark Hair Of The Dog
sound.
The
album is quite dark and daring especially with the lyrics written for
certain parts of the album though it’s the music that always
impresses the most.
Hair
Of The Dog are continuing their excellent relationship with Kozmik
Artifactz for this album and those guys like Ripple Music are one of
the best labels releasing quality albums time and time again. Though,
this is a review for Hair Of The Dog stunning new album.
It’s
Just A Ride is a superbly made album that allows Hair Of The Dog to
move their music into new musical territories and one that leaves you
wondering where do the band go from here. Have they reached their
creative peak. Let’s hope not….
Hair
Of The Dog prove once again why they’re one of the standout
Psychedelic Stoner Rock bands from the Underground Stoner Rock scene.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks
to Kozmik Artifactz for the promo. It’s Just A Ride is available to
buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl now via Kozmik Artifactz.
Links:
