Release Date: June 04th 2021. Record Label: Small Stone Recordings. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
SHUN - S/T - Tracklisting
1.Run
2.Sleepwalking
3.At Most
4.Machina
5.Undone
6.Near Enemy
7.A Wooden House
8.Heese
9.Once Again
Members
Jeff Baucom: bass
Matt Whitehead: vocals and guitar
Rob Elzey: drums
Scott Brandon: guitar and vocals
Additional musicians:
Mark Morton: guitar solo on "Heese"
J Robbins: various percussion
Review
SHUN is a band made up of 4 highly talented musicians who share their love and passion for all things Hard Rock on their debut full length album. SHUN's debut album features 9 tracks of Hard Rock/Stoner Metal grooves with the band bringing in elements of Psych Rock, Alt Rock and Noise Rock with a gloomy Psychedelic Doom based vibe.
The album impresses from the excellent opening few tracks with SHUN bringing a Psychedelic Doom flavour to the mix with opening song Run. A song that sees SHUN start with quite an enthusiastic approach to the Doom/Stoner Metal genres with a Space Rock sound that moves effortlessly into Prog Rock territory.
The 1st song Run does give you a great indication of the type of musical journey the album will take the listener upon within the 9 songs held on the album. Though, SHUN allow themselves the chance to play fast and loose with genre conventions on different parts of the album with songs such as Sleepwalking and At Most bringing TOOL based Prog Rock theatrics to a leaner style of Doom/Stoner Metal.
The vocals from Matt and Scott are constantly engaging and evolving with each song on the album but it’s the music that impresses the most with SHUN bringing a modern Alternative approach to how the music is played and delivered to the listener.
I’ve seen these guys compared to TOOL, HUM and LO-PAN in various articles and press releases and there is a shade of truth to that statement. However, SHUN really do prove they can stand their own creative ground especially on the later stages of the album with songs such as: Undone, Near Enemy, Heese and Once Again featuring some of the heaviest and most spaced out parts of the album.
To the casual observer, SHUN’s debut album may not offer anything new or exciting to entice them with but look a bit deeper and you will be surprised with an album that’s quite inventive and a little bit different from the usual Stoner Rock/Metal albums currently being released.
The album is a BIG ADVENTURE and takes the listener on an EXCITING JOURNEY within the vastness of Progressive Rock and Stoner Metal.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Earsplit PR for the promo. SHUN will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Small Stone Recordings from June 04th 2021.
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