Release Date: March 07th 2025. Record Label: Majestic Mountain Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl
2nd Sound - Track Listing:
1.Brotha
2.1,5 Dozen
3.Meteorhead
4.Oversized Load
5.Stood Still
6.Awaken Monster
7.A Clockwork Green
8.Aftershook
Members
Otu - Guitar/Vocals
RiQ - Drums
Pex - Bass
Review
Finnish Stoner Rockers Kaiser make a dramatic and aggressive return with their splendid new album 2nd Sound which arrives seven years after their acclaimed debut album 1st Sound. This time round Kaiser has transformed into a heavier Sludge Rock/Metal Powerhouse to match their already impressive array of Fuzz, Doom, Psych, Grunge and Stoner melodies. The album blends the fuzzy grooves of Truckfighters and FU MANCHU with the subtle heaviness of High On Fire, Mastodon and SLEEP.
With a sweet sideline of Hard Rock guitars that have a slight flavour of THIN LIZZY and Black Sabbath and that’s only within the outstanding opening track Brotha. The vocals are superbly delivered with them changing into a distinctive Sludge Metal style whilst capturing the unmissable era of mid nineties Stoner Rock/Metal. The FUZZED UP reverb passages are quite intense and allow the Psychedelic melodies to crank up the volume to dangerous levels. There are moments of Stadium Rock at times which appear within tracks such as Brotha, 1,5 Dozen and Meteorhead.
The album feels like it has an apocalyptic / end of the world storyline brewing in the background with the music being more aggressive with each passing second though Kaiser keeps everything grounded with flashes of pure AMPLIFIER DISTORTION that are simply quite breathtaking to hear at times. Though, the song titles do give the game away on what to expect with the creative themes that Kaiser have used for 2nd Sound but that’s only half the story.
Kaiser uses every trick, riffs and licks from the Stoner Rock/Metal rulebook and gives it a refreshing modern day makeover where they’re in complete control especially on tracks such as Meteorhead, Stood Still, A Clockwork Green and the brilliantly epic Aftershock.
There are parts of the album that reminds me of legendary New Zealand riffsters BEASTWARS but both bands playing their own great style of fuzz-centric Doom/Stoner Metal where the riffs are plentiful that leave you simply breathless at times. The amount of sublime guitar solos contained on 2nd Sound is to be commended as Kaiser keeps everything moving along at a brilliantly frantic pace.
2nd Sound has a wide array of different noises, feedback loops, sound clips and space rock sounds that gives the record a thrilling cinematic quality. When Kaiser switches to a classic style of GRUNGE then everything becomes more expansive and explosive with all of the areas of the band's music vying for musical supremacy which develops into the heaviest and standout instrumental soundscapes on the whole album.
The production values are off the chart that allows Kaiser to progress as better musicians, songwriters and storytellers since 1st Sound. Majestic Mountain Records are releasing this great album which will no doubt become a firm favourite within the whole underground scene and confirms KAISER as a force to be reckoned with.
2nd Sound has the potential to be one of the standout and important Stoner Rock/Metal records to own this year. No question.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Viral Propaganda PR for the promo.
2nd Sound will be available to buy on DD/Vinyl via Majestic Mountain Records from Friday 07th March 2025
Links:
http://facebook.com/kaiserfuzz
https://www.majesticmountainrecords.com/
https://majesticmountainrecords.bandcamp.com
