Release Date: July 03rd 2026. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD
Valluhn - Tracklist
1.Cary the light 05:08
2.The Watchers 06:06
3.You are mine 05:28
4.Black dollar bill 05:35
5.Butterfly 05:15
6.Rinse and repeat 04:35
7.Roots 05:36
Members
Brandon Vaillancourt - vox, guitars, bass, synth
Mike Kaminiski - drums
Aria Vaillancourt - vox "carry the light"
Review
Valluhn's self-titled debut album is a highly atmospheric slice of Psychedelic Stoner Rock with a core Shoegaze melody developing very early on within the record. Valluhn has a similar creative sound to the likes of Howling Giant, King Buffalo, Weedpecker and Elder where the music drifts into that epic style of Post-Rock, Prog, Psych and Space Rock surroundings. The record has quite raw and abstract production values that gives the whole record quite a vivid sound especially when Valluhn moves into full-on Stoner Rock/Metal mode.
The album does feel a little incomplete at times but Valluhn have created some exquisite sounds that have a real air of intelligence to them which keeps everything grounded especially through the superb opening tracks of Cary The Light, The Watchers and You Are Mine. With the music moving between areas of Heavy Psych, Post-Rock and Alt Rock dynamics with Brandon Vaillancourt being the main creative force behind this musical project. It feels like Brandon grew up on a steady diet of Nineties Heavy Rock with solid explorations into modern day musical composition.
The raw sounding heavy grooves is what makes the music really stand out with the lush Ambient and Post-Rock structures firmly setting the scene early on within each individual track before the aggressive Post-Doom and Post-Stoner music takes centre stage. There’s some excellent use of synths spliced throughout the album which should appeal to fans of ELDER and KING BUFFALO a great deal.
There are some parts of the record that feel influenced by video games soundtracks but delivered with a sense of real emotion. The sudden shift into Post-Doom surroundings remind me of SPACESLUG especially within the heaviest parts of the album. Sometimes the tracks suddenly stop when things are just about to get interesting which almost took me out of the whole psychedelic journey of the record. However, it’s a good thing that Valluhn has written a collection of great tracks where the next big riff, hook, melody and groove isn’t too far behind to take the listener on another cinematic journey.
As I stated previously, the production and recording techniques are quite stripped back but they’re superbly delivered with Valluhn never outstaying their welcome. They always play to their musical strengths which results in some trippy Sludge/Stoner Rock sounds leaving you wanting more on tracks such as The Watchers, You Are Mine, Black Dollar Bill and Roots.
For a debut album, Valluhn have pulled out all the stops in releasing a highly atmospheric record that fully delivers within the riffs department. I can’t wait to hear what the band fully delivers next as they’re a great band to fully get behind and show some love if you can.
Excellent and Highly Recommended.
Words by Steve Howe
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