Release Date: March 25th 2022. Record Label: New Heavy Sounds. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
The Harvest - Tracklisting
1.Oblok Magellana
2.The Harvest 09:10
3.Interstellar Wrecking
4.Logic Bomb
5.Betrayal
6.Altamira
7.Let's Send These Bastards Whence They Came
8.Strontium
9.Moon Rise
Members
Jessica Ball, vocals and synths.
Paul Michael Davies, guitar and synths.
Stuart Sinclair, bass
Dom McCready, drums
Review
The Harvest is the new album from Psych Doom/Stoner Metallers MWWB formally known as Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard. The band have not only shortened their name but brought a whole different creative perspective for this album. The album was meant to be released in 2021 but was delayed due to guitarist Dave suffering from a severe stroke after contacting COVID which he's still thankfully recovering from.
Vocalist Jessica explains in greater detail below:
“It’s been a long and arduous road for him ever since. He had to be put into a medically induced coma while the doctors battled to keep his oxygen levels up. It was touch and go for many months, and at one point we were told to say our final goodbyes to him.
As we all waited for that awful day to come, Dave had other ideas. Against the predictions of the doctors, he came back fighting. Fast forward to today, and Dave is doing exceedingly well in rehabilitation and once again surpassing the expectations of everyone around him. Despite the life-altering effects of having a stroke, including relearning speech and movement, Dave has worked his hardest at every challenge presented to him and it shows. He is visited regularly by his partner Charlie and their son Zeke, who have been nothing but incredibly strong and positive for all of us through this time.”
The Harvest was recorded before Dave's illness appeared and the album is vastly different from MWWB previous albums with the band adopting a left-field approach with their music.
As they bring in elements of Electronica and Seventies Psych Rock. MWWB are influenced by the works of John Carpenter, GOBLIN and Pink Floyd while still showing their acclaimed Cosmic based Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal. This is all done under the guise of Chris Fielding (CONAN) on Production Duties and the mood is always constantly adventurous, distorted and beautifully engaging.
The music is progressive from start to finish with the opening tracks Oblok Magellna and The Harvest allowing MWWB considerable time to blend their well-known Amplifier Distorted Grooves with the experimental Psychedelic based Electronica glitches that appear on the title track. Sure there’s a lot of different glitches and noises to take in but MWWB play their acclaimed style of sludgy riffs with the action being more centered around the more “experimental” noises and sound effects of the album. Jessica’s vocals are quite sparse and solitary to begin with and I wonder if “Brian Eno” was a major influence on this album as well, especially with the production values of the whole album.
The Harvest feels like a soundtrack to an unknown classic Seventies Horror Movie that is helped along by amazing John Carpenter-esque synths that are truly prominent on third track Interstellar Wrecking. With its “Escape From New York” eerie melodic parts making me think of Snake Plisken. Never thought I would say that when listening to a Doom/Stoner Metal album.
MWWB have delivered something truly different compared to their previous albums with The Harvest being their most diverse, thrilling and surreal offering to date. The album revels with it’s outlook on Seventies Electronica and Classic Doom spliced with modern day Psych Stoner Metal aspects which lovingly come to life on the stunning fourth track Logic Bomb which is perhaps my favourite song off the album. Everything is pitched perfectly on this track with Jessica’s eerily haunting vocals leading the way and the heavy down-tuned grooves not too far behind. There is a sense of danger lurking within the shadows on this track but it offers a wonderfully uplifting atmosphere as well.
The album takes some dramatic and gloomy turns on the second half of the album with the Psychedelic element being given a slightly sinister makeover but the Electronica sounds still leaving you cautions and that’s with the outburst of downbeat and uplifting grooves MWWB have written for this part of the album.
Other standout songs include: Altamira, Let’s Send These Bastards Whence They Came and Strontium with every song offering a different style of music for MWWB to impress you with.
I’ve been a fan of this band since their debut release and they always constantly amaze me with the different styles of records they’ve released to date. However, this record is definitely my favourite so far. As the band have changed their musical and creative style for the better and I love the seedy uncompromising vision of it all.
The Harvest is an action packed release that ventures amazingly across the subgenres of Doom, Sludge and Stone Metal that brings a new Electronica/Synth driven perspective that is so brilliantly fresh and downright original.
MWWB have worked their magic yet again with The Harvest. This is going to be considered as one of the Top 5 Albums Of The Year when those inevitable Albums Of The Year Lists are posted. Don’t be too surprised or shocked this will definitely be in my Top 5 Albums Of The Year.
Incredible. End Of.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Simon at For The Lost PR for the promo.
The Harvest will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via New Heavy Sounds from March 25th 2022.
Links
