Release Date: May 24th 2024. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD/Vinyl
Son Of Juno: Tracklisting
1....And Then Came the Sun
2.Son of Juno
3.Love in Black Tar
4.Black Rain
5.Gaea
6.If I Had a Head
7.Red Dunes
Band Members
- Tobias Amaru Gonzalez Contardo, vocals, guitar
- Victor Hansson, drums
- Filip Larsson, bass
- Harald Nordén, guitar
Review
Son Of Juno is the fourth album from acclaimed Grunge/Stoner Rockers Huanastone who return with a more organic and riff-driven sound compared to their previous album Bad Blood. The record has it’s creative roots within the classic 90’s Grunge/Stoner Rock scene with traces of Blues Rock, Psych Rock and Desert Rock which sees the guys switch musical identities at the drop of a hat with relevant ease to bring an addictive Hard Rock quality to the album.
The first two tracks of ….And Then Came The Sun and Sun Of Juno has influences such as Alice In Chains, KYUSS, FU MANCHU and Soundgarden appearing with the storytelling mindset of the legendary era of music that allows Huanastone to be inspired directly by the classic Stoner Rock scene with highly energetic Stoner guitars with a slightly doomed out Grunge . The whole creative dynamic comes into full focus on Sun Of Juno with the music becoming dominated by epic guitars and subtle Psychedelic rhythms which transform into multiple different styles throughout the album.
Third track Love In Black Tar feels like a more stripped back and hallucinogenic version of KYUSS with the vocals inspired by the 60’s and 70’s Psych Rock scene. The music does move over into Punk Rock territory with flashes of Garage Rock allowing the album to be quite distinctive with its slight DIY production values showing a hidden depth of addictive aggression appearing at different stages of the track.
Fourth track Black Rain operates solely as a Post-Stoner or Post-Grunge track with sullen and melodic instrumental parts which is deliberately slow with a more emotional core appearing within Tobias's vocals moving into 60’s Psych Rock and moody 90’s Grunge aesthetics. Huanastone plays epic sludgy guitars that brings the song closer to the classic Soundgarden track BLACK HOLE SUN in many ways but still standing on its own creative merits. Perhaps the standout track of the album.
Huanastone continues to blend Post-Rock based melodies and aggressive Grunge/Stoner melodic attitudes with some free-forming Desert Rock trippy jams leading the way on the final outstanding tracks such as Gaea, If I Had A Head and Red Dunes. Shades of The Doors lyrical energy shine right through within the later stages with a killer Middle Eastern sound showing a different side to Huanastone.
Son Of Juno is easily the most ambitious and brilliantly impressive album yet from Huanastone which perhaps also sees the band finally develop their own original sound to continue long well into the future with. This is an understated gem of an album which no doubt allows Huanastone to build up a fearsome reputation within the years to come.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Huanastone for the promo.
Son Of Juno will be available to buy on DD/Vinyl from Friday 24th May 2024.
Links
Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram
