Release Date: August 18th 2023. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD
Medusa: Tracklisting
1.Medusa 04:23
2.Old Demon/Slenderman 11:20
3.Hemera 05:28
4.Pan's Death 03:55
5.Hades Trip 06:03
6.Desert Sun 05:03
7.Might of Mind 05:46
Review:
Medusa is the new album from Psychedelic Doom/Stoner Rockers Hephaistos who dive right into the Alternative Rock theatre with distinctive gloomy vocals to match. The sound is fuelled by areas of Classic Hard Rock with a winning 90’s Rock/Metal attitude. There’s an Occult based energy starting to breakout within the confinements of the excellent opening track Medusa.
Opening track Medusa has shades of 70’s Doom Rock and modern Stoner Rock set pieces allows Hephaistos to offer a cool sounding lush and slightly aggressive Psych Rock delivery which can be deliberately slow paced at times.
Second song Old Demon/Slenderman opens with a solid Blues Rock little number with intricate instrumental sounds that moves quickly into a heavy Doomed Out Stoner theme with a reliance of subtle melodic Blues fuelled grooves which shows some stunning instrumental solos. The vocals have that “OCCULT ROCK” essence to them with heavier distorted guitars adding a classy FUZZY guitar sound to the album. There’s a foreboding sense of GLOOM on this track even when the mellow Blues Rock moments take centre stage. However, Hephaistos add that classic BLACK SABBATH attitude to the track with perhaps the band proving their love and dedication to the classic era of 70’s Hard Rock.
Third song Hemera has a more simplistic and creative approach with the lyrics but the music and vocals make this one of the most interesting tracks on the album with the way how the band deliver their music. A swirling Alt Rock sound is the main driving force which effortlessly fuses Doom and Stoner instrumental jams with a sullen Blues Rock backdrop. The later stages of the track sees Hephaistos try their hand at the more varied Post-Doom or Post-Stoner style of music which gives their music a richer and more atmospheric sound.
Fourth song Paris Death expands and builds upon that Post-Stoner vibe with a lush sounding Psychedelic Blues Rock score which is more cinematic with the production values contained on this song alone. The heavy drums and thumping guitars make the song more Doom based with the vocals being more restrained compared to the earlier tracks on the album. This allows Hephaistos another chance to play more epic FUZZIER and Stoned Out Blues based grooves.
The final three songs of Hades Trip, Desert Sun and Might Of Mind allows Hephaistos to become more adventurous with their music with Hades Trip being a full on Doom Rock opus with plenty of Fuzz Rock aggression. The vocals are quite eerie and opt for a mournful style within the slower parts of the track. Desert Sun uplifts the mood ever so slightly but for a bleak and desolate Desert/Stoner Rock/Grunge journey and Might Of Mind mixes all of Hephaistos might, talent and wisdom for another one of the albums standout tracks that is more FUZZ based which has a killer Truckfighters influence bursting out from the seems in places.
Medusa is a richly observed and well executed debut album with stunning production values that offers first rate entertainment from start to finish.
Excellent and Highly Recommended.
Words by Steve Howe
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