Release Date: 16th February 2024. Record Label: Small Stone Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl
An Earlier Time - Tracklisting
1) Limitless – (05:11)
2) Space Exploration – (05:33)
3) Nuclear Sacrifice – (05:28)
4) Prehistoric Liftoff – (04:35)
5) Begin Again – (06:45)
6) Want You Home – (05:25)
7) Final Chance – (06:41)
8) Last Transmission – (03:24)
Members
Craig Peura: vocals and guitar
Paul Gaughran: bass
Patrick Queenan: drums
Review
Desert/Stoner Rockers Sundrifter third full length album An Earlier Time sees the band expand their QOTSA and KYUSS inspired sound with a Grungier and Post-Rock style coming into fruition with moments of bombastic Sludge Rock with a Cosmic Doom creative scope. The end results that appear on the record is perhaps the best sound the band have delivered to date with a sublime Soundgarden burgeoning influence appearing within the lyrics and vocals.
However, Sundrifter remains true to their own creative beliefs and values with Limitless being quite original with its outlandish gloomy sounds that appear within the excellent opening tracks of Limitless, Space Exploration and Nuclear Sacrifice. These tracks alone show you how Sundrifter explores the further reaches of Spaced Out Stoner Rock/Metal with twisted elements of Fuzz Rock. Sludge Rock and the uplifting Post-Rock flows that really come to life within Space Exploration and Craig’s vocals being dynamically powerful that have a certain Josh Homme and Chris Cornell flavour to them.
An Earlier Time is downright catchy and highly melodic throughout but that doesn’t stop Sundrifter adding moments of aggressive distorted grooves where the FUZZ levels transform into AMPLIFIER DISTORTED sounds which adds another volatile atmosphere to the heaviest parts of the album on tracks such as Nuclear Sacrifice, Prehistoric Liftoff, Begin Again, Want You Home and Final Chance.
However, one of the main things that standout on this album is the superb lyrics that Sundrifter has written for the whole album. As they’re quite emotional, bold and uplifting in places that really hit the mark when matched with the intense instrumental grooves from start to finish. Sundrifter embraces a more Alt Rock creative energy on the later stages of the album even when the music is more Sludge, Doom and Shoegaze inspired.
An Earlier Time is boosted by exquisite production values that allows Sundrfiter to play a contemporary and modern style of Psychedelic Rock/Metal that moves across multiple areas of the Doom, Sludge and Stoner Rock spectrum that remains thoroughly essential and downright brilliantly original.
This is an album we’ll still be talking about before the year is out and being considered one of the most definitive Stoner Rock albums of the year. Sundrifter could be heading for bigger, better and greater things with An Earlier Time as it’s that type of record.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Earsplit PR for the promo.
An Earlier Time will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Small Stone Records from Friday 16th February 2024.
Links
Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Twitter
