Mental Nudge – Tracklisting
Broken Tweaker
Fast Number Two
Bad Friend
Helms
It's Your Head
Mental Nudge
Trigger Happy
Members
Craig Riggs
Darryl Shepard
Tom Corino
Matt Couto
Review
Boston Stoner Rock Supergroup KIND return after a 5 year absence with their spellbinding and hard-hitting new album. The band made-up of former members of ELDER, Black Pyramid, Rozamov, Roadsaw and Featuring members Matt Couto (ex-Elder), Tom Corino (ex-Rozamov), Craig Riggs (Roadsaw) and Darryl Shepard (ex-Black Pyramid), this band released their debut album Rocket Science back in 2015 to critical acclaim. I believed I called it “The Stoner Rock Album Of The Year”.
I thought the guys would never get back together as the guys have been busy with their respective musical careers. Though, here we are with Mental Nudge. A barn-storming collection of Psychedelic Stoner Rock/Metal songs that are packed full of highly energetic Progressive Riffs and with a darker lyrical content compared to their celebrated debut album.
Opening song - Broken Tweaker - instantly draws you in with its powerful style of Psych Rock, Space Rock and Stoner Rock with a twinge of Sludge Rock allowing KIND to play a more emotional style of music. The music is inspired by Stoner Rock/Metal of the last 30 years but KIND have enough rough charm of their own to play a darker groove where the riffs and Craig Riggs vocals are key for the entire album.
Second song - Fast Number Two - is fast-paced Spaced Out Affair with KIND enjoying more creative freedom on this album with a more willing focus to experiment and adding more socially aware lyrics to this song. The song really comes together in the final moments with a great display of huge riffs and vocals from Craig in the 1st half of the song more than set the scene for one of the albums standout songs.
The next few songs - Bad Friend, Helms and It’s Your Head sees KIND once again developing their new found musical maturity by playing a darker and gloomier style of music with the lyrics being one of the main strengths of the entire record. Especially on It’s Your Head. These 3 songs are my favourite part of the album with KIND playing a non-stop blend of loud and aggressive Psych Doom/Stoner Metal riffs that shows each musician each bringing their own undeniable talent to the party. Killer vocals yet again from Craig seal the deal. I swear this is the best I’ve heard from Craig in a very long time and ranks as my favourite vocal performance from him.
Mental Nudge is a bold and brave new album from KIND. It’s the perfect follow=up to their celebrated debut album but this one is better in every single way. The production is first-rate with KIND being on explosive and powerful form from start to finish.
If you’re looking for an album that’s not afraid to be daring in all the right places but one that offers top-notch riffs from start to finish then Mental Nudge is the place to be.
Credit must also goto Ripple Music for delivering the goods yet again by adding another stellar release to their incredible batch of releases from the legendary underground label.
Excellent and Highly Recommended.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo. Mental Nudge is available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Ripple Music now.
Links:
Facebook | Bandcamp
