Release
date: May 1st
2020. Label: Tee
Pee Records / Nasoni Records.
Format: DD/Vinyl
Chilling
Effect –
Tracklisting
1.Chilling
Effect 11:29
2.Left
Hand Path 06:16
3.Neo
Dog 03:11
4.Red
Return 06:27
5.Fool's
Gold 07:44
Members
Sean
Forlenza: Guitar/Vocals
Anthony
Mendolia: Bass
Tav
Palumbo: Drums/Synthesizer
Review
Psychedelic
Stoner Rockers River Cult return with their new album Chilling Effect
and this comes after 2018’s acclaimed debut full length – Halcyon
Days – which showed the band’s strength in creating Spaced Out
Psychedelic Themes against 60s/70s Hard Rock with a cool Stoner
Rock/Metal atmosphere. This album offers a similar style of music but
it seems River Cult have trimmed some of the Progressive sounds heard
on their last album and firmly remain in the world of Psychedelic
Spaced Out Rock.
The
opening song – Chilling Effect – is almost 12 minutes of Classic
Rock being given a Psychedelic/Stoner Rock makeover with a heavy
Space Rock presence. The sound feels quite “Indie Rock” and
“Alternative Rock” at times but it works superbly well. The heavy
guitars are loud and dynamically fresh in places with Sean’s vocals
having an eerie 60s/70s Hard Rock approach especially when the
heavier and dramatic moments appear. The song is the most
“Progressive” track on the album that has a distinctive “Drone”
vibe to it on the later stages of the song. The song is most
definitely the standout song the album possess with River Cult
playing some truly magnificent Tripped Out Psychedelic Doom Rock for
the last remaining moments of the song.
Second
song – Left Hand Path – opens with a more restrained approach
with a simply played guitar and Tav’s great drumming bringing a
more suspenseful style of Psychedelic Stoner Rock with an almost
“Jam-Rock” vibe that is part of River Cult’s overall sound. The
heavy feedback from the guitars brings a more mature and grown-up
sound and the Punk Rock lyrics the band have written for this song
allow River Cult to bring a more emotional edge to the whole feel of
the entire album.
River
Cult carry on the jagged Psychedelic Rock approach for the remaining
3 songs of the album with the band expertly moving between moments of
Heavy Doom Rock and their trademark Psychedelic Stoner Metal grooves.
The band are primarily still a Power Trio with the emphasis on POWER.
As there is hidden depth and volume behind the riffs the band have
written for the album.
The
60s/70s Classic Hard Rock environment is what makes this album really
stand out as the band have really done their homework and focused on
bringing out the best elements of that legendary musical period
whilst giving it a more modern spin.
The
final two songs – Red Return and Fool’s Gold – are the other
standout songs on the album with River Cult making sure they have
enduring appeal for the Stoner Rock/Metal masses.
If
you’re a fan of Halcyon Days then be prepared for a much better
album with River Cult not being beaten by the well-known “Second
Album Curse” or “Sophomore Slump” that’s besieged bands in
the past. Chilling Effects is a classic sounding album in every sense
of the term and this is an essential album to own.
Words
by Steve Howe
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