Release Date: May 10th 2024. Record Label: Black Throne Productions. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl
Wild Fever - Tracklisting
1. Wild Fever
2. Red
3. Inside of Your Brain
4. Night is Young
5. Disease
6. Down
7. God Told You
8. Eye for an Eye
Members
Mick Martel – vocals and guitar
Gabriel Prieur (PRIEUR & LANDRY) – drums
John Choffel – guitar
Caleb Sanders – bass
Review
Psych/Doom/Stoner Metallers The Hazytones return with Wild Fever which is their first new album in over six years. The record sees the band become more destructive, aggressive and heavier compared to their previous albums. Wild Fever is full of passionate 1970’s Hard Rock sounds and seedy Fuzzy Psychedelics which merges the street level style of Doom/Stoner Metal which is heard throughout the record.
However, despite the more menacing approach, The Hazytones haven’t skimped on their classic blend of melodic RAWK ‘N’ ROLL which is heard within the superb opening track of Wild Fever. The band combines Proto-Doom, Classic Hard Rock and modern day Psych Stoner Rock which allows Mick’s vocals to take a more commanding performance. The vocals and lyrics are very much part of the Classic Rock movement but still having a more refreshing Stoner Rock theme throughout.
Second track Red sees The Hazytones deliver a classic TWIN guitar style reminiscent of Thin Lizzy and some epic HEAVY METAL touches that feel inspired by Metallica in places. However, the Proto-Doom and Stoner Rock sound reigns supreme even when the band play more epic sounding Twin Guitars with a thumping Psychedelic vibe that allows the guitar shredding to become DOOM & GLOOM on the closing stages.
Third track Inside Of Your Brain opens with an epic Instrumental Jam with even more screeching guitars and a seedy Fuzzed Up attitude with first rate drumming from Gabriel perhaps being the main highlight. It’s a short instrumental track which soon gets the blood pumping for the next heavy round of Aggressive Stoner Sounds to appear.
The next two tracks of Night Is Young and Disease sees The Hazytones become ever more accustomed with the DOOM & GLOOM surroundings of their heavier Stoner Metal style with a frantic Sludge Rock sound appearing. The vocals are excellent once again and homage to the world of 1980’s Hard Rock/Heavy Metal. Wild Fever is quite outlandish with the band having a blast conjuring up sinister amounts of gloomy Fuzz/Stoner Metal with a THRASH outlook which is perhaps the most technically impressive on the album.
The final three tracks of Down, God Told You and Eye For An Eye once again sees The Hazytones combine the worlds of Classic Heavy Metal and modern day Doom/Stoner Metal with intense blasts of melodic Psychedelic and Proto-Metal sounds. God Told You and Eye For An Eye are my favourite tracks on the album with the newfound seedy and sinister creative energy that soon gives way to more wicked sounding instrumental passages that allows Wild Fever to become quite a destructive force of nature that also benefits from first rate production values.
The Hazytones have called upon two imposing figures from the Doom/Stoner Metal scene to make this album a demented reality. WO-FAT’s Kent Stump is on mastering duties with MONOLORD's Esben Willems on mixing duties. Two more great reasons to check out Wild Fever as they give the record a more muscular sound.
Wild Fever is a ferocious record which ultimately earns its place under the “DOES IT DOOM” category and on this evidence WILD FEVER does indeed DOOM from start to finish. The Hazytones have made their most impressive and brilliantly entertaining record to date.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to C Squared Music for the promo.
Wild Fever will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Black Throne Productions from May 10th 2024.
