Release Date: August 04th 2023. Record Label: Olde Magick Records. Formats: DD/Vinyl
Return Without Any Memory: Tracklisting
The Waters
Tying Up The Noose
Give It Time
Through The Snow
Head Under The River
Distant
Hear Me Now
Members
Oliver, Emil, Niclas, Jeppe and Emil
Review:
Return Without Any Memory is the new album from Psych Desert/Doom/Stoner Rockers Sonic Moon who feel inspired by bands such as Alice In Chains, QOTSA, Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats and Soundgarden with the Progressive themes of TOOL on certain parts of the album. Sonic Moon uses a vivid and rich tapestry of different Doom, Stoner and Grunge elements with an outlandish Progressive sound allowing this album to be quite dreamlike with Scorched Desert Grooves with a harsh sense of reality thanks to the Grungier outlook the lyrics have.
Opening song The Waters is a trippy Desert/Grunge/Stoner hybrid song with Sonic Moon using delicate levels of FUZZ with a seedy Grunge aspect that merges into a more distorted style of Stoner grooves. The vocals have that classic 90's Alt-Rock/Alt-Metal delivery with the music becoming more Desert/Stoner/Fuzz based as time moves along. This is a great track to open the album with. As it showcases the main creative style Sonic Moon delivers with this album. The Progressive Rock flourishes brings a more gloomy environment with the sound becoming more Doom based.
Second song Tying Up The Noose is a more SONIC based offering with the song dividing it's time between soaring Stoner Metal sounds and a distorted Progressive theme. Elements of Doomed Out Fuzz with seedy Grunge vibes allows Sonic Moon to deliver one of the standout tracks on the album. The song is at it's best when the soaring vocals aim high with the riffs being a mixture of distorted grooves and even a LOW & SLOW approach being used. There's a fantastic singalong chorus which you can't help joining in. Sonic Moon experimented with a more dominant SONIC DISTORTED sound towards the end of the song which brings areas of Droned based FUZZ to the party that moves into the next exciting track on the album.
Third track Give It Time continues with the heavy Drone Rock sound with the trippy Fuzzed Up Stoner grooves changing into extended Progressive Jams and early-era QOTSA based vocals. The song captures a more Doom based Desert Rock texture with the AMPLIFIER LEVELS of distortion being the main creative key for Sonic Moon to play the heaviest sounds on the album. There's a sense of adventure within Sonic Moon's music that retains an eerie FU MANCHU and Truckfighters vibe but with a Post-Doom outlook. The album is highly melodic and volatile at the same time. This is another one of the album's standout tracks which deserves multiple listens.
Fourth song Through The Snow opts for a Post-Stoner or Post-Rock delivery with the instrumental sounds being quite subdued and not as intense compared to the other tracks on the album. The vocals have a SHAMANIC essence to them with Sonic Moon embracing the lighter and positive themes of the Desert Rock scene. The added use of Trippy Eastern Sounds allows this track to be one of the most uplifting and positive tracks on the album. The song is cautiously slow with the Post-Stoner sounds ending on a hopeful and upbeat note.
The final three tracks of Head Under The River, Distant and Hear Me Now sees Sonic Moon creating a more aggressive style of Post-Whatever based sounds that has a killer 1990's attitude especially with the Desert Rock attitude of Head Under The River with a lush Progressive Stoner attitude that once again merges distorted moments of Fuzz, Grunge and Prog Rock.
Distant and Hear Me Now sees Sonic Moon return to playing similar music as the opening tracks with perhaps a more Progressive slant but still having a dominant flavour Desert/Stoner Rock sound with a sublime Atmospheric Doomed Out feeling when things do become intentionally heavier.
Return Without Any Memory is a deeply rich, intense, adventurous and extremely bold record that allows Sonic Moon to be one of the most exciting bands I've had the pleasure to listen to this year. This is another Album Of The Year contender which everyone within the Stoner Rock/Metal scene should check out now.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Sonic Moon for the promo.
Return Without Any Memory will be available to buy on DD/Vinyl via Olde Magick Records from August 4th 2023.
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