Release Date: November 08th 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD
Escape From a Smoldering Planet - Tracklisting
1.Nashörn 05:16
2.Fables 08:16
3.Battles 04:38
4.Crows And Ravens 05:16
5.Water 10:16
6Treadmill 04:42
7.Revolve 05:19
8.Red Sabbath 05:25
9.Rider 04:08
10.Apocalypse 03:56
11.Commander 07:43
Members
Jan D. - Guitar
André - Drums
Dennis - Bass
Jan B. - Vocals
Review
Escape From A Smouldering Planet is the debut album from Psych/Doom/Stoner Metallers FAT RHINO and the band play an action packed style of music with influences ranging from Black Sabbath, KYUSS, FU MANCHU and KYUSS. The band specialise in a superb style of modern day psychedelic surroundings which perhaps draws upon the likes of Monster Magnet and Orange Goblin at the best of times. The record lasts for over an hour spread across ten tracks with FAT RHINO exploring a wealth of superb FUZZED up passages with a slight sense of Heavy Metal exposure appearing within Jan B’s dynamic vocals.
The lyrics are standard Doom/Stoner Metal fare but FAT RHINO add a sense of aggressive and street level attitude that fully sells their creative vision. FAT RHINO like exploring the Psychedelic and Spaced Out themes of their music which comes across superbly well within the opening tracks of Nashörn, Fables and Battles. The music is catchy and very fast-paced with FAT RHINO even adapting a Progressive flavour into the music on the more lengthier compositions that are contained within the album.
The album does move back and forth from classic Nineties based Fuzz and Stoner Metal passages to the modern day Post-Whatever attitude. The vocals do feel over the top and quite theatrical but this allows FAT RHINO to stand out from the crowd with highly original vocals being performed with the right emotional intensity to them.
There’s also a NWOBHM context developing behind the scenes which perhaps allows FAT RHINO every opportunity to play areas of Eighties Hard Rock and Heavy Metal on the more outlandish aspects of the record. FAT RHINO experiments with Sludge, Fuzz and Grunge based landscapes on the longest tracks of the record with Fables, Waters and Commander being the most technically impressive on the album.
Escape From A Smouldering Planet is a great sounding record from start to finish where FAT RHINO play a wide assortment of different grooves and melodies with thrilling instrumental solos being delivered by Jan D (Guitars), André (Drums) and Dennis (Bass) proving their musical worth especially on tracks such as Crows And Ravens, Treadmill, Red Sabbath and Rider. These tracks see FAT RHINO deliver the heaviest and catchiest sounds on the whole album with the atmosphere flirting between HARD ROCK and HEAVY METAL with supreme confidence.
When everything is said and done, FAT RHINO have done their homework with this great album as it features all the best sounding aspects of the Doom, Psych and Stoner Metal scene over the last forty years or so. However, they still put their own great creative spin into this record which could see the guys build a loyal and dedicated following within the underground scene.
Excellent and Highly Recommended.
