Release Date: April 14th 2023. Record Label: King Volume Records. Formats: Cassette/CD/DD/Vinyl
Weary Traveller: Tracklisting
1.Weary Traveler
2.Silver Man in the Sky 06:36
3.Never Rains at Midnite 06:17
4.Endless Color / Dope Purple
5.Lover
6.Motor Boss
Members
James Wallwork (Guitar & Vocals)
Kyle Hulgus (Guitar)
Alex Wallwork (Bass)
Joey Rhew (Drums)
Review
Weary Traveller is the new album from Doom/Stoner Metallers Faerie Ring and has arrived four years since their impressive debut album. This album is still essentially a Doom/Stoner based album. However, Faerie Ring has incorporated elements of Psych Rock, Classic Heavy Metal and flashes of Hard Rock. The sound is quite progressive and outlandish in places but it’s carried out with a wonderfully FUZZED UP attitude.
Weary Traveller also has a surreal vintage edge to it with the classic production styles used on this album. The songwriting is inspired by WEEDIAN folklore in places and moves along at a cracking pace. The album remains dynamically heavy with muscular grooves bringing a more sludgy attitude on certain parts of the album.
The first two tracks of Weary Traveller and Silver Man In The Sky are your standard Doom/Stoner Metal fare but the music moves up a gear when Faerie Ring get more creative with their music and play some epic guitar moments along the way. Trippy and Psychedelic with the Doom Metal aspect being thoroughly modern. The lyrics are OTT and quite fantastical but everything works as it should.
James' vocals are bang on form with him at ease singing the more energetic high notes which do have a twinge of Classic Rock and Vintage Doom behind them. The music is perhaps the real star with Faerie Ring moving between modern day Psyched Out Doom/Stoner Metal and the classic style of Heavy Metal allowing the band to create a richer and fuller sound.
The third track Never Rains At Midnite allows Faerie Ring the perfect opportunity to play a more catchy and aggressive style of music. One of the most standout moments of the album with the FUZZY guitars having a more confident feel. The vocals have a killer “Garage Rock” effect even allowing the song to be more Punk Rock in places. The Psych element brings a slightly restrained performance from the band but everything is still a deceptively HEAVY experience on the later stages of the song. The inclusion of the piano was a very cool touch indeed and the Amplifier Reverb that briefly appears shows that Faerie Ring are willing to try new things with their music.
The second half of the album follows the same structure as the first half but perhaps with the heaviest grooves being buried under a ton of Psychedelic Energy and Distorted Sounds. Standout tracks include Endless Color/Dope Purple and Motor Boss with perhaps Endless Color/Dope Purple being the best track on the second half of the album especially with the use of Trippy Post-Rock or Post-Stoner elements that feel inspired by bands such as ELDER and King Buffalo.
The mood can be quite chaotic in places but it’s all done with purpose and Faerie Ring play sublime grooves along the way. Weary Traveller has a “world building” and “cinematic” quality to it that allows Faerie Ring to release a better album than their acclaimed debut.
Overall, Weary Traveller is a spellbinding, genuinely exciting and action-packed album that leaves you wanting to hear more.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to King Volume Records for the promo.
Weary Traveller will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via King Volume Records (USA) and King Volume Records (EU) from April 14th 2023.
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