DENIZEN - High Winds Preacher (Album Review) and Exclusive Album Stream

Release date: November 29th 2019. Label: Argonauta Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

High Winds Preacher – Tracklisting

1.Shadow Dancer 03:33
2.Among The Trees 04:54
3.Ears Wide Opened
4.Chasing The Guru
5.The Beast
6.Mandrake Is Everywhere
7.White Flamingo
8.Deaf Taint
9.Punch Out
10.Tomahawk

Members

Fabien Aletto : Vocals
Yann Chinette : Guitars
Andreas Goumy : Drums
Colin Trognée : Bass

Review


High Winds Preacher is the new album from French Stoner Rockers – Denizen – and it’s a gloriously heavy affair which doesn’t take itself too seriously with the different strands of Stoner Rock the band employ throughout the album. Denizen take the standard Kyuss and Fu Manchu style of Stoner grooves and put their own creative spin on things.

Denizen have been going as a band for over quite a while now and they’ve released a wide range different releases over the years that all play to their creative strengths and High Winds Preacher is no different. The band add a clever style of distorted Fuzz Rock on this album with the opening songs Shadow Dancer and Among The Trees showing two different sides to the band. Shadow Dancer has a more playful energy and intense blend of Stoner/Fuzz Rock whilst Among The Trees feels more restrained but with a lot more going on in the background.

The vocals are quite different on this album as they feel more experimental and you should expect to hear different styles of vocals on this album. Though it won’t spoil your overall enjoyment album. Far from it. As it makes the album to have a unique personality of its own.

The album becomes more focused when the third and fourth songs of the album appear with Ears Wide Opened and Chasing The Guru sees Denizen playing a classic style of Desert/Fuzz/Stoner Rock with Psychedelic vibes ruling the roost. The album still allows Denizen to experiment with their sound for a wilder style of music that we haven’t heard from the band before.

Other songs to check out are: The Beast, Mandrake Is Everywhere, White Flamingo and Tomahawk – being the songs with the heaviest and exciting riffs on the album. Tomahawk is perhaps the standout song with the band having more time to fully explore and create more vivid sounding Stoner riffs.

High Winds Preacher does sound and feel like a concept album of sorts with a loose story being told throughout the album. It may take a few listens for the overall themes of the album to fully shine through but as a Stoner Rock album, Denizen have released another wild and highly adventurous slice of Stoner Rock/Metal that will no doubt impress their established fanbase and maybe gain some new fans along the way.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

You can hear to the album this full with this exclusive album stream. Thanks to Mona at All Noir PR for all of the details.

High Winds Preacher will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl from Argonauta Records on Friday 29th November.

  
Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Denizen - Troubled Waters (Album Review)

Release date: April 5^th 2015. Label: Argonauta Records. Formats: CD/DD

Troubled Waters: Tracklisting

1.Teddy Bear 04:37

2.Whoresmoker 04:59

3.Jocelyne 04:07

4.The Waitress 03:40

5.Glassie Lovely Glassie 03:12

6.King Of Horses 03:43

7.Heavy Rider 04:03

8.Time To Leave 01:40

9.Enter Truckman 04:12

10.Moonwalk Blues 04:48

Band Members:

Fabien Aletto : Vocals

Ludovic Barbiero : Guitars

Andreas Goumy : Drums

Colin Trognée : Bass

Review:

Troubled Waters is Denizen's 4^th album since their formation back in 2003. Their last album – Whispering Wild Stories – was released back in 2011 and it's one I rated as there best effort yet. There style of in-your-face Sludge/Stoner Metal riffs with a Punk Rock groove is undeniably catchy and angry as hell. I still think their last album is still their finest work to date but Troubled Waters is still one hell of a ride.

Opening track – Teddy Bear – offers fast-paced noisy Sludge Rock riffs with hilarious lyrics to match. I think that's the bands intention to have fun with their music whilst offering crazy head-banging riffs for you to enjoy. The vocals can be very sloppy at times but they add a certain charm to the album. My advice, just go with it as you'll have more fun.

Second track – Whoresmoker – is possibly the best track on the album with the band on violent and confident form. The riffs have a certain NOLA energy to them with the heavy Sludge/Stoner Rock vibes being played at a fast speed. The production could have been tightened up here and there as the drums feel out of focus at times. Andreas is an excellent drummer but his work sounds watered down at times. Though that's my only complaints for the album as it's all systems go for one exciting ride to the finish.

Denizen don't stray too far from their punk driven sound as the album is chaotic and violent as hell through out. It's won these guys a wide range of admirers within the Sludge/Stoner Rock scene. Tracks such as Jocelyne, The Waitress and King Of Horses blast onto your stereo with confidence as the band crank out 100mph style riffs for you to devour. If you're a fan of Sabbath, Cream, Monster Magnet and even Kyuss then Denizen are the band for you. Sure the album is chaotic but that's part of the charm. The album is what it is. A fast-paced and violent attack on the senses. Just enjoy the party as Denizen will fuck up your world for the next 39 mins or so. Awesome stuff!!!

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp