Release Date: August 25th 2023. Record Label: Spartan Records. Formats: DD/Vinyl
Leecheater: Tracklisting
1.Born Again 02:39
2.Dead to the World 03:28
3.Black Stars 01:42
4.Through the Cracks 04:28
5.The Wick Effect 05:28
6.Windows 07:23
7.Feet on the Ground 05:15
8.Leecheater 08:44
Members
Jason Blackmore (guitar, bass, vox)
Mario Quintero (drums, guitar, vox)
Review:
Leecheater is the debut album from Noise Rock/Grunge/Post-Punk/Post-Rock/Stoner Rock outfit SISTERS. A band that features Jason Blackmore (Molly McGuire) and Mario Quintero (Spotlights) and it’s an absolute delight with SISTERS fusing so many different styles of music into a distorted and heavenly sound which should appeal to fans of bands such as QOTSA, HUM, Failure, Torche and the own members respective bands.
There is a subtle “DARK POP” energy within the album which shines through on the excellent opening track Born Again with its highly energetic style of Atmospheric Rock which has a subtle Stadium Rock quality to it. The mood does become more DISTORTED and DRONE based which shows that SISTERS aren’t afraid to get down and dirty when the sludgy grooves finally appear.
Second song Dead To The World opens with a breakneck classic sounding QOTSA groove with that AMPLIFIER DISTORTED swagger allowing SISTERS to keep moving forward with their highly original hybrid sound. The vocals have a real Alternative Rock quality and feeling to them with the lyrics having a STONER edge to them. The droned out guitars are just the icing on the cake for me when the sounds become more glitch based with a thrilling Post-Punk sound leading the way.
Third song Black Stars is a blistering Noise Rock/Punk Rock number with Psychedelic guitars and slightly aggressive vocals that feels like the best track that QOTSA has never written whilst still being a truly breathtaking and highly original composition in its own right. The song feels twice as long despite the song clocking under one minute and forty seconds.
Fourth song Through The Cracks is a track that could have easily come from Spotlights and Molly McGuire themselves. With a gloomy Noise Rock creative core, SISTERS bring a slight Industrial feel to the album. The vocals are easily the best part of the track as they showcase a more daring presence to SISTERS though the melodic sounds aren’t too far behind. SISTERS employ that grungy Alt Rock attitude that allows the band to become more Psychedelic with heavy Post-Rock flourishes.
The second half of the album sees SISTERS continue with their Atmospheric blend of different musical styles but with perhaps a Progressive Rock and Experimental style on this part of the album. This is perhaps where SISTERS offer the most interesting styles of music with thick Noise Rock/Sludgy guitars and outstanding drumming being heard on tracks such as: The Wick Effect, Windows and the brilliantly cinematic final title track of Leecheater.
Leecheater is a gloriously hip and richly satisfying album to listen to. Backed up by first rate production values, the album is wholly original with SISTERS creating an album that defies the rules of the multiple genres they play on this album. The album is at it’s best when SISTERS play that intense style of Atmospheric Rock where the grooves change creative directions and when the distorted elements appear then Leecheater becomes one of the best debut albums you’ll hear this year.
Words by Steve Howe
Leecheater is available to buy on DD/Vinyl now via Spartan Records.
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