Release Date: October 04th 2024. Record Label: Ripple Music. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
When The Moon Was High - Track Listing:
1.Breathe 03:31
2.Never Boulevard 04:11
3.Brother Bjork (Live @W2) 06:57
4.Senor Moreno's Plan (Live @Hellfest) 04:06
5.Love (Live @Hellfest) 04:23
6.Manager's Special (Live @Hellfest) 03:39
Members
John Garcia – vocals
David Angstrom – guitar
Mike Callahan – guitar
Dandy Brown – bass
Chris Leathers – drums
Review
When The Moon Was High is the new album from Stoner Rock legends Hermano and whilst it only features two new tracks with Breathe and Never Boulevard being the first new music from the band in over fifteen years and the rest being live versions of already established Hermano classics. This is still time to celebrate by hearing sublime new tracks from one of the most unsung bands of the Stoner Rock scene.
Breathe is classic Hermano through and through with its subtle style of Desert Rock, Blues Rock and Stoner Rock with the classic vocals of John Garcia leading the creative charge. This instrumental sound is quite refreshing to hear and has an organic quality that only certain bands of the Stoner Rock movement can conjure with perhaps FU MANCHU and Monster Magnet being the other bands in the same class of Hermano. The music has a modern day sound which has an eerie resemblance to John’s recent solo work but with a more urgent swagger or drive to Hermano’s overall sound.
Second track Never Boulevard was originally conceived back in 1998 but was never released until now. This is Hermano in a reflective mood with the melodies being slightly Soft Rock, Country based and a subtle semi-acoustic style. The biggest factor is John’s laid back and emotionally charged vocals. Though, David, Mike, Dandy and Chris provide a deeply engaging performance which can be considered an Ambient style of music which is quite refreshing to hear from Hermano. The sound has a classic forgotten style of music that breathes 1990’s Desert/Stoner Rock attitude which is deeply reminiscent when the Stoner scene was perhaps near the end of it’s creative mainstream peak before returning to the fringes of Rock and Roll.
The four other tracks are from Hermano’s live performances from their 2016 critically acclaimed reunion tour with W2 and Hellfest being selected. As the band perform classic tracks such as Brother Bjork, Senor Moreno’s Plan, Love and Manager’s Special. It’s great to hear live renditions of these great tracks. Each track sees Hermano play with a commanding Blues Rock presence before the Stoner Rock attitude allows the band to delve into their heavy trademark sound with John’s vocals still having a thrilling and commanding presence after 3 decades performing within the entire scene.
The standout tracks from this section of the album are Brother Bjork and Love as these are my two of my all-time favourite tracks from the band.
Hermano have aligned themselves with legendary underground rock label Ripple Music for When The Moon Was High and with the promise of further reissues and special editions in the future then we may hopefully end up with more new music in the future. However, it’s great to see Hermano back in the Stoner Rock limelight with a highly energetic and spellbinding record.
When The Moon Was High is a must have record for all fans and dedicated followers of the Desert/Stoner Rock movement.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.
When The Moon Was High is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Ripple Music.
RIPPLE MUSIC links
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