Release Date: May 05th 2023. Record Label: Riff Slayer Records. Formats: CD/DD
Vision Quest: Tracklisting
Green Rider
Vision Quest
Subversive
Dead Eye
Hard To Find
Painted Desert
March To The Grave
The Rot
Members
Patrick Fiore - Lead Guitar
Corey Presner - Vocals/Guitar
Brian Schmidt - Bass
Dean Welsh - Drums
Review
Doom/Stoner Metallers HIGH LEAF is powered by the mighty WEED with the band even named after the damn thing. Let's take cue of their musical influences. Black Sabbath, SLEEP, Electric Wizard and Monster Magnet. Yeah, the gang's all here where influences are concerned. What makes HIGH LEAF standout is their use of Classic Rock, Prog Rock, Space Rock and even a killer Grunge vibe appears multiple times on the album.
There's a subtle "Post-Stoner" or "Post-Doom" drive that can be heard on the early stages of the album, especially the stunning opening tracks of Green Rider and Vision Quest. HIGH LEAF explores the familiar WEEDIAN sounds but injected with a more world-weary Psychedelic flavour. Both tracks have a Blues based Psychedelic Druggy attitude with an OM-esque down-tuned quality to the music. The vocals on Green Rider is a winning style with a sense of emotion and realism to them despite the drugged out subject matter.
HIGH LEAF still plays the high standard of WEEDIAN grooves we expect from the underground scene. Though, HIGH LEAF plays a more nuanced style of music on VIsion Quest which allows the band to play some of the finest and mellowest sounds on the album. Quite progressive in places which allows the band the perfect opportunity to show off their impressive musical skills. Vision Quest does become a heavier sludgy beast with the grunge-esque lyrics adding a more bleak hallucinogenic effect.
Third track Subversive has a WEEDEATER/BONGZILLA flow to the track with a more direct style. The vocals remain clean and the Blues Rock aspect allows HIGH LEAF to play a subtle mix of classic and modern day Doomed Out Stoner Grooves and heavy distorted Sludgy atmospherics changing into some mighty fine extended instrumental jams.
Fourth track Dead Eye is another Blues based Doom Metal offering with an electric FUZZ and AMPLIFIER WORSHIP style of music. The lyrics are inspired by the Seventies Classic Hard Rock era especially with the more funky parts which lead vocalist Corey sings with complete gusto. The second half of the song is full of heavy pounding guitar solos yet again which has a soulful Sludge/Stoner based movement.
HIGH LEAF continue to play their winning style of WEEDIAN Metal that does continue with an aggressive slant with both the vocals and lyrics the band have written for tracks such as Hard To Find, Painted Desert and March To The Grave. The lyrics are perhaps more DOOM based and leaves the Stoner aspect behind for a harsher style of music. However, everything works surprisingly well with HIGH LEAF laying down first rate grooves to the finishing line.
Vision Quest has a multitude of different styles of Doom/Stoner Metal to entertain listeners with. Backed up by first rate production values, HIGH LEAF have delivered the goods with Vision Quest. Full of passionate vocals, intelligent lyrics and epic grooves, this allows HIGH LEAF to go out ALL BONG's BLAZING.
Vision Quest is the complete WEEDIAN package for HIGH LEAF to impress the Doom/Stoner Metal underground scene with.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to HIGH LEAF for the promo.
Vision Quest will be available to buy on CD/DD from May 05th 2023 via Riff Slayer Records.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/highleafband
Instagram: www.instagram.com/highleafband
Bandcamp: www.highleaf.bandcamp.com
Spotify Pre-Save: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/highleaf/vision-quest
Offical Website: www.highleafband.com
Record Label: www.riffslayerrecords.com