Release Date: October 11th 2024. Record Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Hittin' The Bitchin' Switch - Track Listing:
1.A Million Beers 02:44
2.Evel Never Dies 03:05
3.Gardenia (Kyuss cover) 07:41
4.Green Machine (Kyuss cover) 04:54
5.It Ain't Free 03:00
6.Night Tripper VS No Brainer 06:47
7.Nothin' 04:24
8.Own Yer Blues 05:39
9.Party March 03:15
10.R.A.M.O.N.E.S. 01:39
11.Rad Stays rad 07:12
12.Stand Down 06:09
13.Strawberry Creek 03:22
14.The Older Kids 05:47
15.Tribe/Fly Girl 14:02
Members
Brant Bjork
Nick Oliveri
Ryan Güt
Review
Stoner Rock royalty STÖNER are back with their first “official” live album as the band did release a live record for their “debut” release Live In The Mojave Desert: Volume 4 back in 2021 which was subsequently released as a proper studio recording called STONERS RULE to critical acclaim across the Stoner Rock community.
Hittin' The Bitchin' Switch sees STÖNER play their greatest hits along with a couple of KYUSS classics (Gardenia and Green Machine) for great measure across eighty minutes of superbly played Desert/Stoner Rock grooves that proves once again why Brant Bjork and Nick Oliveri are legends within the scene. Along with Ryan Güt who is becoming one of the best drummers within the scene today and shows why he’s one of Brant’s most trusted creative partners over the multiple different projects that Brant has released over the last few years.
Hittin' The Bitchin' Switch has a highly majestic and raw sounding quality which makes you feel part of the audience which allows STÖNER to play some mighty fine extended instrumental sounds that allows STÖNER to have multiple “JAMMING SESSIONS” to the delight of the audience in attendance. The highlights of the album are without doubt the KYUSS covers of Gardenia and Green Machine which have lost none of their magic.
STÖNER have a killer supply of classic tracks themselves with songs such as: Evel Never Dies, It Ain’t Free, Night Tripper vs No Brainer, Own Yer Blues, Rad Stays Rad and the brilliant fourteen minute epic of Tribe/Fly Girl.
The album is LOUD and brilliantly AGGRESSIVE from the start with its raw and deeply unapologetic production values allowing STÖNER to release a classic LIVE ALBUM in every sense of the word. This is an absolutely superb and must have LIVE album and is perhaps my favourite LIVE record I’ve heard this year.
STÖNER have been on a roll over the last few years and I’m hoping there’s more to come from this great band. Hittin' The Bitchin' Switch features a blistering powerhouse performance from STÖNER and proves once again why the Stoner Rock world needs bands like them to shake up the creative foundations of the whole scene.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Purple Sage PR the promo.
Hittin' The Bitchin' Switch Gift is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds.