Release
date: April
10th
2020.
Label: Full
Moon Records.
Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
All
In Good Time –
Tracklisting
1.Homestead
06:43
2.Rocky
Roost 03:29
3.The
Common Loon 04:38
4.Barn
Burning 06:53
5.The
Incident 04:44
6.The
Dirty Dog Saloon 06:09
7.Avro
Arrow 05:30
8.Bonanza
05:26
Members
Kevin
Vansteenkiste (Guitar/Vocals),
Jared
MacIntyre (Bass/Vocals)
Anton
Babych (Drums)
Review
Going
through the current lockdown in the UK has allowed me to listen and
discover new music more than ever. One of those bands that I
discovered during lockdown is Canadian Heavy Psychedelic Stoner
Rockers – FAMILIARS – though I almost give their debut album a
hard pass based on their album photo. As their album cover made
myself think that they were an Indie Rock/Folk Rock band and
obviously that’s far from the truth.
What
we have on All In Good Time is a collection of stunning tracks that
reach the far vastness of Psychedelic Rock, Stoner Rock, Post-Rock
and even a bit of Shoegaze which is used for great dramatic effect.
What really sticks out on the album apart from the epic riffs which
the album is full of, is the emotionally driven and intelligent
lyrics that allows the music to have a life of it’s own.
If
you dig bands such as ELDER and KING BUFFALO then FAMILIARS should be
your next port of call with their lush sounding Progressive themes
and grooves having an emotional theme to them. The vocals are quite
heartfelt that switch between a soulful style and some harsh heavy
clean vocals which I didn’t expect on certain parts of the album.
The
opening song – Homestead – is a great song to open the album with
as it shows you the many different styles of music that FAMILIARS
play on this album. Stoner/Post-Rock based sounds with a Shoegaze
effect lead the way with a Heavy Psychedelic Rock undergroove
allowing the vocals to tell a cool story. The album’s overall
effect it trippy and hypnotic from start to finish.
Second
song – Rocky Roost – is one of my favourite songs on the record
with FAMILIARS playing a more subdued and emotional style of music
with the song becoming heavier as time passes by. The music interplay
between the band members is first-rate with the vocal harmonies being
first rate. The band cover a lot of musical ground despite the short
running time on this song. It actually feels like the song is on
twice as long and that is a good thing.
Third
song – The Common Loon – is a more hard-hitting affair with the
Stoner Rock mood being quite aggressive in places and the band add a
more daring Psychedelic vibe to the overall feel of the album. The
guitar solos are plentiful and leave you wanting more before the
almost post-doom vocals appear. The superb lyrics are quite easy to
remember and you can’t but help joining in singing along to the
background. Well I know I did over the last few weeks.
Fourth
song – Barn Burning – is another standout song on the album which
starts with a slow Doom based groove that’s quite cold and gloomy
before a more subtle Stoner Rock riff changes the direction of the
song. The song is quite slow but when the Shoegaze aspect of the
album appears it changes the song to a more reflective 90s Alt
Rock/Metal style of music but still offering a modern sounding
Doom/Stoner Rock based approach.
FAMILIARS
continue to expand their musical horizon by implementing different
styles of music and offering an original style of Psychedelic Stoner
Rock/Metal they can definitely call their own. The top-notch
production by the band and Simon Larochette (who also provided Pedal
Steel and Additional Percussion on the album) is wonderfully
cinematic and has quite a timeless quality to it all.
The
second half of the album is perhaps more inventive compared to the
first half and equally as good with songs The Dirty Dog Saloon and
Avro Arrow being the main highlights.
All
In Good Time is one of those albums that becomes a much better album
with each subsequent listen and offers a different experience every
time. The album is packed full of glorious sounds and wonderful riffs
that show what a truly talented band FAMILIARS actually are.
Yeah,
I kinda love this record. Don’t let the album cover fool you. This
is a masterclass of Heavy Psychedelic Stoner Rock. End Of.
Words
by Steve Howe
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