Release Date: August 22nd 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD
The Big Rip - Tracklisting
Behold, This Mountain
KAKTUS
Kraken Mare
Olympus Mons
Members
Danny Valle Johannessen - Lead Vocals
Eivind Dalevoll - Guitar
Ole Jørgen Kjørholt - Guitar
Mats Bredesen - Bass
Simen Lunde - Drums
Review
Olympus Mons is the new EP from Psych Stoner Metallers The Big Rip with the band bringing a big focus of dazzling Psychedelic sounds with the epic opening track Behold, This Mountain being partially inspired by Witchcraft mostly with perhaps shadows of ELDER and KING BUFFALO for good measure. The song is a mixture of bombastic grooves and low-key melodies which bridges the gap between Post-Rock interludes and full on Stoner Metal aggression.
Danny Valle Johannessen’s lead vocals have a sense of Seventies Prog Rock delivery to them especially within the quieter moments before transforming into a Grunge/Stoner Rock aspect when The Big Rip start playing heavier melodies with those Progressive themes expanding into areas of Space Rock. There is a sense of sonic exploration and musical adventure on this track which could serve the band well for greater exposure in the long term future. There’s a classic KYUSS vibe being projected throughout but The Big Rip create music on their own dynamic and original hard-hitting terms.
The next two songs of KAKTUS and Kraken Mare have already been released with The Big Rip bringing a thumping Sludge bass heavy sound thanks to Mats Bredesen impressive playing. Once again, The Big Rip transform classic Stoner Rock/Metal moments to a backdrop of Post-Stoner grooves with the vocals once again being quite thoughtful especially in a Prog Rock sense. The dual guitars of Elvind Dalevoll and Ole Jørgen Kjørholt join creative forces but ultimately do their own thing by playing a non-stop blend of wicked Psychedelic instrumental passages.
The drumming from Simen Lunde is another genuine highlight with the EP changing into different musical textures and levels of FUZZED OUT heaviness but Simen’s constant intelligent drumming keeps everything grounded especially on Kraken Mare and Olympus Mons. Perhaps the heaviest and most spaced out environments that will become a major part of The Big Rip’s future sound and vision that will no doubt see them go onto bigger things in the near future.
Olympus Mons is a splendid release with outstanding moments of pure Spaced Out Stoner Metal heaviness with The Big Rip always allowing themselves to try different things along the way.
Words by Steve Howe
Links
