Monday 18 July 2022

TENEBRA - Moongazer (Album Review)

Release Date: April 28th 2022. Record Label: New Heavy Sounds. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Moongazer - Tracklisting

1.Heavy Crusher 03:06

2.Cracked Path 04:31

3.Black Lace 04:53

4.Carry My Load 04:45

5.Winds Of Change 04:33

6.Stranded 03:49

7.Space Child 05:21

8.Dark And Distant Sky 04:35

9.Moon Maiden 05:17


Members


Silvia - Vocals

Claudio - Bass

Emilio - Guitars

Mesca - Drums


Review


Moongazer is the new album from Occult Psych Stoners TENEBRA which follows a heavy path of 70’s based Occult Doom and Classic Rock with the band approaching with a modern Stoner sound. TENEBRA play a similar style of music to bands such as Kadavar and Graveyard on this release with the band still finding time and creative space to play their own style of Occult based WEEDIAN music. 


There’s a heavy soulful Blues Rock presence which you can hear in the excellent opening tracks: Heavy Crusher, Cracked Path and Black Lace. TENEBRA do merge the 70's Classic Hard Rock melodies with the grittiness and realism of 90's Psych Stoner Rock. Though the band explore many unexpected areas of the Hard Rock spectrum with a Grunge attitude fitting in quite well with the vintage sounds of Cracked Path and Black Lace.


The instrumental work offers a grounded reality compared to other “Occult” themed Stoner Rock/Metal bands and TENEBRA are quite adept at playing whatever style of music for the whole record. If you dig the sounds of Deep Purple and even Black Sabbath then Moongazer is the perfect album for fans of both the Classic Hard Rock and Stoner Rock underground to fully immerse themselves in. 


The vocals from Silvia are first rate with a passionate performance that permanently resides in the 70’s Hard Rock/Metal scene. Offering a more classical and soulful approach that can be in dark contrast to the heavier modern day grooves that appear on the album. However, everything works as it should and TENEBRA impresses even further on tracks such as Carry My Load, Winds Of Change, Space Child and Moon Maiden.


Moon Maiden features lead guitars from Gary Lee Conner of Screaming Trees fame that also becomes one of the standout tracks on the album.


Moongazer is a deeply rich and emotionally driven album that deserves your full attention. As TENEBRA have released an outstanding slice of Doom/Stoner Rock that has a timeless quality to it all. 


Excellent and Highly Recommended.


Words by Steve Howe


Moongazer is available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl now via New Heavy Sounds.


Links


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