Date Released: September 18th 2022. Record Label: DeadClockWork Records. Formats: DD
After The Storm: Tracklisting
Left To Do
Fight Fire With Fire
Twilight Zone
Sirens
Killing My Idols
Damage
At The Gates
Save A Bullet
What's The Matter Man
Review
Psych Stoner Metallers Blind Mess return with their new album After The Storm and it sees the band explore their Punkish roots even further with a dose of Motorhead fast-paced grooves. The Stoner Rock/Metal influences draw upon Clutch, Fu Manchu and early era QOTSA. The album is lively throughout with Blind Mess being quite rebellious with their Punk Rock vibes.
Opening song Left To Do is a gloriously hip blast of aggressive Stoner sounds with a classic Hard Rock appetite that draws in the Motorhead influence for everyone to feel and hear. The music is quite melodic and even though maybe nothing groundbreaking, Blind Mess still play a mighty fine style of catchy Stoner Metal sounds with spiky lyrics and vocals to match.
Second song Fight Fire With Fire has a more blues rock appeal with fans of CLUTCH can seriously get behind. The song is quite atmospheric and catchy with the 80's Heavy Metal inspired lyrics having a cracking singalong chorus that will grab you by the scruff of your neck. The song is one part love letter to the classic Heavy Metal scene and the next moment, Blind Mess are playing a more Alternative style of music. The riffs feel like a product of their time with that timeless classic sound being played on the later stages of the song. One of the most enjoyable songs on the album that has quite a few epic jams and guitar shredding towards the end of the song.
Third song Twilight Zone is QOTSA inspired through and through if they jammed with bands from the NWOBHM scene. This is still a Stoner Rock/Metal album but with Blind Mess merging the Punk Rock and Heavy Metal themes with superb creative vision. The vocals are on the aggressive side with the grooves being more on the melodic side.
Blind Mess have six more songs to impress listeners with and they take their hybrid style of Punk Rock, Stoner Metal and Heavy Metal to more intense levels of PURE RAWK heaviness on tracks such as: Sirens, Killing My Idols, Damage, Save A Bullet and What's The Matter Man.
The band don't stray from the winning formula from the opening three songs though don't be surprised if Blind Mess throw a curve ball by including little snippets of different styles of music you wouldn't expect. Check out Sirens for prime example of this.
The instrumental work is excellent with Blind Mess doing overtime within the riffs division. The vocals are handled superbly well for the most part of the album. Though, there are some parts that don't gel with the music as they really should. However, that won't stop you enjoying After The Storm. As Blind Mess play to their absolute strengths on this release.
The album sounds excellent with Blind Mess handling recording and mixing duties themselves. They did leave mastering duties to one of the coolest dudes within the underground scene with Jan Oberg (Earthship, GRIN and Slowshine) handling that role.
After The Storm is a superb and action packed release with a high amount of sublime grooves to impress even the most jaded Stoner Metal fan. Blind Mess have done themselves proud with this release. Great stuff.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Blind Mess for the promo.
After The Storm will be available to buy on DD from DeadClockWork Records from September 18th 2022.
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