Release Date: November 05th 2021. Record Label: Self Released. Format: DD/CD/Vinyl
α - Tracklisting
1.Dead Tree 06:15
2.Idiotsyncracy 05:16
3.Genetic Freaks 04:59
4.Down Below 09:00
5.Νόστος (Nóstos) 06:03
6.Hollow Icon 04:01
7.Hanging By A Thread (feat. Björn Strid) 05:52
8.Brace 06:01
9.Σώμα (Sóma) 07:13
10.Death-Washed 08:33
11.The Machine 08:43
Members
Dimitris : Vocals/Guitar
Jonny : Guitar
Rob : Bass
Cameron : Drums
Review
“α” is the debut album from Greek but UK based Progressive Stoner Metaller Blind Tendril and is sometimes a challenging and OTT album where the band share a wide range of musical influences ranging from the Hard Rock, Grunge, Psych and Stoner Metal variety.
Blind Tendril are extremely talented but the album is a tad overlong by a good ten minutes. However, the technical ability is super impressive with some songs going the extra mile in providing wonderfully solid creative musical passages with Psychedelic creative flair to match. The first half of the album is definitely the strongest part of the album with Blind Tendril bringing Greek and Middle Eastern influences to the backdrop of Psychedelic Stoner Metal with flashes of Prog Rock/Metal giving it a more real life sound.
Songs such as: Dead Tree, Idiosyncrasy, Genetic Freaks and Down Below remind me of Italian Sludge/Stoner Metallers Void Of Sleep and their celebrated debut album Tales Between Reality And Madness. There’s a lot of cool similarities between these two great bands with Blind Tendril being slightly out there with their creative themes and psychedelic sounds.
The vocals are another one of the album's strengths with the music allowing them to breathe naturally. There are a lot of trippy noises and psychedelic moments on this album that really come into play on the second half of the album with a “SPICY” Alt Rock flavour making this a much better listening experience.
The music is always constantly engaging with a highly energetic blend and different styles of Progressive Stoner Rock/Metal.
There are wonderful surprises on this album from Blind Tendril with Hanging By A Thread featuring Björn Strid aka Speed who is the lead vocalist from Swedish Melodic Death Metal Legends SOILWORK amongst many others.
As I stated earlier in this review, it’s a tad too long at almost 70 minutes in length but at least you’re getting your money's worth with this release. Blind Tendril is still onto a winner with this album and will no doubt impress and entertain the Stoner Rock/Metal Community with it’s vivid storytelling and wonderfully eerie Progressive themes.
All in all, Blind Tendril have released a well produced and superbly entertaining record that has got a lot of great things to say whilst bombarding you with top level Stoner Rock/Metal grooves.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Blind Tendril and Kassandra for promo.
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