Release Date: September 13th 2024. Record Label: Stickman Records / MNRK Heavy. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl
Tundra Rock - Track Listing:
1.Afghansk Rev
2.Rice
3.Cabin Fever
4.Red Thundra
5.Good Mourning
6.Battling Guns
7.Monomann
8.MJ
9.Dune
Line-up:
Benjamin Berdous - Guitar, Vocals
Marie Moe - Bass, Vocals
Tor Erik Bye - Guitar
Jard Hole - Drums
Review
Slomosa return with their highly anticipated second album Tundra Rock which follows their celebrated 2020 debut album that struck a chord with a wide majority of the Stoner Rock scene. Slomosa even managed to win plaudits from iconic musicians of the scene such as Brant Bjork and Nick Olivieri.
Tundra Rock continues to see Slomosa explore and build upon their own dynamic style of Desert/Stoner Rock with a heavy Grunge based attitude. This time round Slomosa add a dense style of Fuzz Rock and Psychedelic attitude to their music which builds upto a more classical style of Stone Rock which allows them to create their own original style of music.
Opening track Afghansk Rev is a track that sees Slomosa channelling bands such as KYUSS and YAWNING MAN with a slow moving foreboding attitude which becomes quite Post-Rock sounding in places. The grooves are played at heavy levels of volume before slowly dying off into the background. There’s some vocal chants towards the end of the track though it’s the epic instrumental passages that pulls you in from the very start.
Second track Rice has become a live favourite for fans with Slomosa playing the track LIVE non-stop recently and it’s not hard to see why. Taking that classic KYUSS delivery with Spaced Out flourishes and Grunge attitude with Benjamin’s vocals being quite dominant for all the right ways. The music changes into an uplifting style of Cinematic Rock with a sludgy sound starting to emerge but the powerful FUZZED UP instrumental solos allow this to be one of the early standout tracks on the album.
Third track Cabin Fever opts for a deft Psychedelic Blues Rock sound with a cool atmospheric Desert Rock drive before Slomosa open up their treasure chest of Aggressive based Stoner Rock/Metal passages. The sound becomes quite DOOM & GLOOM obsessed before Slomosa switches back to a style of music that transforms into a Post-Stoner movement. The vocals from Benjamin and Marie are sublime with both equally powerful despite being quite different to each other. The lyrics are quite direct and very warm-hearted when the epic sing-along chorus appears. Another one of the standout tracks shows why Slomosa are considered one of the brightest creative lights within today’s Stoner Rock scene.
Fourth track Red Thundra is a track that could be considered as one of Slomosa’s true classic definitive tracks with the excellent vocal interplay between Marie and Benjamin. Subdued guitars and beautifully played rhythm sections slowly move into a heavier area of music. The sounds become heavier with a meaty Sludge Rock/Metal appetite starting to emerge. The lyrics are very heartfelt and have a sense of harsh realism to them. The later stages of the track has the best instrumental and extended solos on the whole album with Slomosa playing a ferocious style of music that still retains this epic HUGE LIKEABILITY factor.
Fifth track Good Mourning is a gloomy instrumental piano piece which is used as a brief rest before returning to the heavy sandy dunes of SLOMOSA.
The next part of the album sees Slomosa capturing some of the vivid and uplifting creative energy they first showed on their debut album with a subtle Psych Rock style becoming more apparent. The vocals are excellent yet again with stunning music being classic and contemporary at the same time on tracks such as Battling Guns, MJ and Dune.
Tundra Rock easily allows Slomosa to avoid the dreaded sophomore curse and deliver a record that’s even better than their celebrated debut album. With catchy melodic hooks throughout and thrilling instrumental solos, Slomosa have delivered an album that’s going to launch them ever so closer to the mainstream scene. They fully deserve all the accolades and praise coming their way as Tundra Rock is a masterclass of modern day Desert/Stoner Rock.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Action PR and All Noir PR for the promo.
Tundra Rock will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via MNRK Heavy and Stickman Records
Links
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