Release Date: January 02nd 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD
Stone Oracle - Tracklisting
1.The Oracle’s Awakening
2.This Is Not a Drill!
3.Smoking a Razor Blade
4.Building 58a
5.The Hostal Protocol
6.Skeletons in the Closet
7.Getting High on the Road 04:05
8.Queen of the Thorn Signal
9.The Lizard Sleeps in Oil 04:52
10.Your Mojo
11.Opium Haze 05:06
12.Throttle the Sun
13.Mirage Burnout
14.Into Morpheus
15.The Oracle’s Scream
16.Cathedral of Rust
Review
Cult Greek Stoner Rockers Hostal Handshake return after a lengthy eighteen year absence with their new album Stone Oracle. The end result is a record that moves throughout the whole Heavy Rock underground spectrum with moments of Doom, Psych, Blues, Grunge, Stoner and Desert Rock where the emphasis is truly on the power of the MIGHTY RIFF.
This is quite a long and spectacular record spread across sixteen tracks with Hostal Handshake having a lot to say against the modern world which gives them a truly outrageous PUNK ROCK spirit at times. The record never waives from musical experimentation with Jazz Rock beats merging with classic Doom Rock energy which comes out from the very start within the opening tracks of The Oracle’s Awakening, This is Not A Drill, Smoking A Razor Blade and Building 58A. There’s influences ranging from the likes of QOTSA, The Hives, Black Sabbath, CLUTCH and Soundgarden with that instantly recognizable Greek Stoner Rock sound making a cool demented appearance.
Be prepared for a highly aggressive style of different musical melodies and instrumental passages that has a catchy “HIP” and “CLASSIC ROCK” energy especially with the different vocal styles employed throughout the record. Stone Oracle is perhaps stuck in a musical timewarp but that’s one of the album’s main strengths that it amplifies that type of MOOD and creative energy for some best tracks on the album.
Other great tracks to check out are The Hostal Protocol, Skeletons In The Closet and Getting High On The Road to wrap up a spectacular first half of the record. The music is always bouyant, groove orientated with Hostal Handshake never afraid to try something new even with moments of Progressive and Technical passages slowly emerging which becomes part of the musical landscape on the second half of the record.
The second part of the album allows Hostal Handshake to inject darker themes into their music for a more grown up and mature sound whilst keeping everything grounded on tracks such as The Lizard Sleeps In Oil, Your Mojo, Opium Haze, The Oracle’s Scream and Cathedral OF Rust all being dominated by outbursts of Occult Rock and Doom Metal surroundings.
Hostal Handshake keeps within their Desert/Psych/Stoner Rock mandate for the majority of the record but they have a lot of time to play with as the album runs for around eighty five minutes in length. If you’re happy to put in the work and effort to listen to this album then you’ll be richly rewarded for a stunning tour-de-force of intense Stoner Rock/Metal.
Excellent and Highly Recommended.
Words by Steve Howe
Links
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