Release Date: July 17th 2024. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DDl
WindBag: Tracklisting
1.Brick by Brick 04:00
2.Brown Acid 03:52
3.The Fall 04:32
4.Neanderthal Blues 04:30
Members
Mike Em - Vocals, Guitar
Brenton Nicholas - Drums
Hilary Brown - Bass, Vocals
Shane Townsend - Guitar
Review
I have a plan for which albums I review that I try to stick to because it seems like there is a new album about every 24 seconds in this genre. On a slow day. But damn, sometimes you hear something so bad-ass it changes the plan. WIndbag by Bellwether Ritual fucked up my writing schedule in the best way possible! The new EP melted my face and drew my hands to my keyboard, so I could blather on and on about how fuckin BAD-ASS this EP is. When I heard the lyric "whatever happened to the good old days?" on Neanderthal Blues I thought, these ARE the good old days with releases like this!
The band is described on Bandcamp as a grunge/rock band and I guess if you are going to have to use labels that's as good as any, although there are definitely metal, doom and desert influences all over this EP. This is a nice chunk of Heavy Underground rock that deserves a listen. Bellwether Ritual sounds like they want to grab you and shake the rock directly into your spine. Windbag is a really fun record and you'll be missing out if you don't give it a listen (you gotta have 20 minutes for this if you're a rock and roll fan!).
This EP is an excellent follow-up to the Neck and Neck EP released appropriately enough on April 20th (yes I am familiar with the devils lettuce) earlier this year. Windbag features the nice, tight song writing of the first EP while expanding Bellwether Rituals' foray into the Heavy Underground as they push their creativity to the far reaches of doom and stoner rock. Windbag hits a bit darker than Neck and Neck and I like it a lot.
Anyway, here's a little bit about the most important part, the songs!
Brick by Brick...man these are some fuzzy doomy bricks for sure. Excellent vocals on this doomy track set a dark mood. The fuzz is real and this is excellent throw-back doom much like Black Capricorn displayed on their latest effort. The emphasis on this track is slow and low. Like a good thunderstorm you can feel the oppression seeping out of the corners of the walls and feel your speakers quake. The vocals are powerfully harsh at the climax and the sound is so appropriate for the increasing drama of the song. A tasteful solo and an urgent ending really got me excited about this track and perked me up in my seat, eager to hear the rest!
With Brown Acid, the tone changes to a more psychedelic hard rock jam. I mean...Brown Acid, right? Retro without being derivative, this song has a great vocal presence over chunky guitar riffs, solid drumming and clockwork bass. Brown Acid is a really good rock song. I enjoy the diversity that Bellwether Ritual exhibits in their song writing, and it's awesome to see the music remains strong and interesting as the sound changes for each tune. It's good songwriting y'all.
The 3rd track, The Fall has a nice kind of grungy, perhaps Stone Temple Pilots feel. The recording features an excellent mix here. This just sounds really good and it seems very radio ready. This song sounds the most like the first EP and if you haven't heard Neck and Neck, this song should get you motivated to do so. The Fall is a nice desert/grunge rocker. Many influences shine through here and create something pretty unique. I also love the hardcore end to the song. Hell yeah!
The last tune opens up with a serious 80's heavy metal tone. A more sultry approach to some of the vocals here, this plays out beautifully as a hard rock anthem, inspired by the past by definitely a modern heavy underground sound. Neanderthal Blues sounds similar to the sound of bands like Duel and Warlung in the way they all seem to have enjoyed a lot of KISS in their musical upbringings. I hear that influence in this EP, but perhaps again, with a more grungy feel. However you define it, Bellwether Ritual has a killer energy that will invigorate your ear-holes. A unique Heavy Underground sound, these guys should be on your "check these guys out" list. The EP is out so go listen to it and enjoy some kick ass heavy underground rock and roll!
Whatever happened to the good old days? They are back y'all!
Words S Patrick Brooks
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