Release Date: August 30th 2024. Record Label: Black Farm Records. Formats: DD/Vinyl
Oblivion: Tracklisting
1.The Gates 01:31
2.God help you 06:47
3.11,800 08:06
4.Faceless 06:17
5.Oblivion 09:14
6.Choke 09:21
Review
Aussie Doom/Stoner Metallers Pod People make a welcome return to the fold with Oblivion that is their first album in sixteen years. This band perhaps laid down the groundwork and foundations of the Aussie Stoner Metal scene way back in 1995. The band would go on to be part of bands such as Lucifungus, Hyrdranaut and I Exist.
Pod People play the same old school of Stoner Metal such as bands such as Orange Goblin, Monster Magnet and SLEEP with the fuzzy attitude of LOWRIDER and FU MANCHU. There’s a subtle Doomed Out Heavy Metal creative energy with their music that allows Pod People to show that they have lost none of their original magic.
The music is constantly powered by a classic Sludge Metal groove which does have a certain Progressive flair within the longest tracks on the record. With a non-stop riff-centric delivery, Pod People does show a bleak WEEDIAN sensibility which aligns them to the DARK DANK themes of bands such as WEEDEATER and BONGZILLA which perhaps come from the members other bands such as LUCIFUNGUS.
The vocals are delivered by a PUNK ROCK and DOOM METAL attitude which is made the more powerful by the excellent lyrics that Pod People have written for tracks such as God Help You, 11800 and Oblivion. The record works surprisingly well as a timely reminder of how classic 90’s Stoner Metal originally sounded whilst having a core modern sound that appears with the Progressively outlandish Fuzz sounds and down tuned guitars that has a slight NOLA and Southern Metal drive to them.
Oblivion is a great album for Pod People to come back with. It’s a shame there’s little fanfare for this great release and even when it’s from one of the seminal Aussie Doom/Stoner Metal bands that I was genuinely excited here and it doesn’t disappoint at all. Even better is this album being available for FREE DOWNLOAD with a cool vinyl from Black Farm Records.
If you haven’t heard this great band before then Oblivion is the perfect opportunity for you to change all that and be prepared for a first rate WEEDIAN release which takes a slightly aggressive DOOM METAL turn that you initially expect.
Words by Steve Howe
Oblivion is available to buy now on DD/Vinyl via Black Farm Records
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