Naevus - Heavy Burden (Album Review)

Release date: August 19^th 2016. Label: Meta Matter Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Heavy Burden – Tracklisting

1.Heavy Burden

2.Black Sun 05:01

3.Naked

4.Dead Summer Day

5.The Whistling Tree

6.Cloudless Sunstreams

7.Future Footprints

8.Timeless Illusion

9.Dancing In The Summer Rain

10.The Dwarves Revenge

11.Outro

Band Members:

Mathis Straub - drums

Sven Heimerdinger - bass guitar

Oliver Großhans - guitars

Uwe Groebel - guitars/ vocals

Review:

Naevus (Stoner Psych band from Germany, not to be confused with the British experimental band of the same name) have been absent from the scene for a few years (to say the least). The last full length offering from them was in 1998, “Sun Meditation” on Rise Above Records. They released a handful of rare tracks and covers along the way, but were mostly silent during that time. The band had officially got back together in 2012 and has released the soon to be classic, “Heavy Burden”.

In true classic/vintage doom (think Sabbath, Pentagram and early NWOBHM) the riff rules! If you are a wah fan, this is some of the best sounding wah on record! The twin guitar attack is done very well, each taking their own tone and filling up the sonic wall that is Naevus.

Their use of dynamics is what really sets “Heavy Burden” apart. They set up galloping sections with grand walk down passages and aren’t afraid to sit on a riff. The vocals are sung, yes sung! They tend to stick to tried and true subject matter, but it doesn’t sound contrived or forced. There’s a ton of Ozzy in the vocal production, but that has been missing from a lot of bands as of late; in my opinion.

Naevus swings these tracks like they should. In a world of odd time signatures and math rock, it’s refreshing to feel your head nod in that familiar groovy way. Stand out tracks for me are; Black Sun, Dead Summer Day and Dancing In The Summer Rain.

If I were to have one criticism it would have to be that the whole album is a bit clean. The mix could have been a bit rawer. Is that a complaint? Not at all, all the parts have their space and are given equal time in the spectrum. I would love to see how this plays live, with volume and the fever of a crowd. I bet it’s HUGE! Fans of Black Sabbath, Trouble, Pentagram and tasty wah should grab this, turn down the lights for a few hours and enjoy repeated listenings!!

Words by Bill Bensen

Thanks to Timon at Mountain Range PR for the promo. Heavy Burden will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Meta Matter Records from August 19^th 2016.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

We Hunt Buffalo - Living Ghosts (Album Review)

Release date: 25^th September 2015. Label: Fuzzorama Records. Formats: CD/DD

Living Ghosts- Tracklisting

Ragnarok

Back To The River

Prairie Oyster

Hold On

Comatose

Fear

The Barrens

Looking Glass

Walk Again

Band Members:

Ryan Forsythe - Guitar & Vox

Brendan Simpson - Bass & Vox

Brandon Carter - Drums

Review:

The album starts off like a heard coming at you from a distance and then this clean melodic riff enters; drenched in reverb. A haunting lead drifts by. The build up hits you hard and heavy. It’s so catchy that the 2:09 minute opener Ragnarok isn’t long enough.

Back To The River has a southern rock tinge and that’s not a bad thing at all. The vocals are layered and thought out. Harmonies are tight and sit just right in the mix. We Hunt Buffalo understand the groove, the vocal hook and how to use their power.

The angst of Prairie Oyster is in your face and you feel the despair. Gritty verses and hooky choruses! Badass!!

Hold On is almost space rock. The pulsing bass line keeps the forward progress and then the chorus hits. Simple, effective and drenched again in glorious reverb.

Comatose has such broad production and again almost space-rock in its arrangement. I can’t stress enough about how the vocals make this band!

Fear has a huge 1 minute intro and then drops into moody vocals. Delivered from the heart and deep!

The Barrens is almost spaghetti western in it’s 60’s feel. The vocals are a bit less out front on this and that might be the only fault on this album. We Hunt Buffalo have that classic rock tone and sensibility, but they don’t abuse it.

Looking Glass spends the first minute luring you in and then drops the B3 in your face. Pulls back and allows the vocals to take hold... then sends you on a familiar journey. I am a sucker for a B3 and a spinning leslie. This song doesn’t disappoint in the least!

Walk Again closes out the album and we get a taste of that gritty bass. This might be the weakest track on the album, but seriously any band in this genre would love to have written this song. We Hunt Buffalo are in command of who they are as a band and the consistency of this album shows that.

Fans of their early work will find this outing less fuzzy, but not lacking any of their signature riffs or vocal power. This Vancouver power trio delivers the goods and isn’t afraid to grow. The production on this album really lets the band showcase their song writing. Drums are deep, bass is a feeling, guitars are spaced nicely and the vocals are stellar. If they come to a club near you, go! Buy their merch, have them sign your body parts and maybe even buy them a round of drinks!

Words by Bill Bensen

Thanks to Richard at Sheltered Life PR for the promo. Living Ghosts will be out to buy on CD/DD via Fuzzorama Records from September 25^th 2015

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp