Release Date: July 08th 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD
High Peak, Low Life - Tracklisting
1.Welcome to Tame Valley 02:42
2.Witchburner 05:05
3.Northern Lord 03:16
4.The Path of Hawks and Snakes 04:23
5.Graveward Bound 07:38
6.Goatsmoker 06:57
Review
High Peak, Low Life is the debut album from Psych Stoner Metallers Gain who fuse levels of Grunge, Desert Rock, Blues, Doom and Post Rock for a SONIC based musical odyssey that feels like KYUSS jamming with DOMKRAFT. The record is quite direct with the album lasting for around thirty minutes where Gain brings a destructive COSMIC DOOM quality to their music. I was surprised at how Post-Rock orientated the album could be at times but the Doomgaze aspect allows the band to fully become a Stoner Rock/Metal powerhouse especially within the opening tracks of Welcome To Tame Valley and Witchburner.
The distorted and aggressive melodies have a certain Californian / Desert Rock flavour to them with Gain inspired by the likes of FU MANCHU and NEBULA. Though, the lyrics could easily have come from a Doom Metal album with them being quite deceptive when merged with the excellently written melodies. The vocals are sublime with them moving from the world of Grunge, Blues and Stoner Metal but with a heavy FUZZ METAL attitude.
The next batch of tracks of Northern Lord and The Paths Of Hawks And Snakes continues with sludgy and seedy dynamics of Gain’s momentum to something heavier, fast-paced and quite progressive which takes the lead on the final two tracks of Graveward Bound and Goatsmoker. However, before these two tracks, Gain offers a delightful and wicked descent into Space Rock surroundings with overlaying layers of Cosmic Rock and Stoner Metal melodies. There’s an epic progression of warped sound effects and distorted passages which allows Gain to create a fine level of SONIC heaviness that leaves you wanting more.
High Peak, Low Life has been expertly recorded by Chris Taylor at Noiseboy Studio and mastered by Wayne Adams at Bear Bites Horse who both apply their expert touch to make this such a wickedly entertaining and superbly constructed record.
If you want another seal of approval to check out this great album, how about Ben Ward from the mighty ORANGE GOBLIN who states - “It makes me think of what you’d get if you crossed Kyuss, Hawkwind and Nebula!"
High Peak, Low Life is STONER METAL of the highest order and I’m hoping that Gain can create some buzz and momentum within the underground scene. As this album has it all. This is definitely an ALBUM OF THE YEAR contender. Check this out now. You won’t be sorry.
Words by Steve Howe
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