Honeybadger - Let There Be Light (Album Review)

Release Date: October 19th 2025. Record Label: SODEH Records. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Let There Be Light - Tracklisting

1.Before the Crash

2.Panic Button 

3.Filth and Disorder 

4.The Green

5.Diamonds

6.The Joke is on me

7.Empty handed

8.Let there be Light

Musicians

Dimitris Vardoulakis - Vocals/Rhythm Guitar/Lead Guitar

Vagg Oikonomou - Drums/Percussion

Dimitris Giannakopoulos - Lead Guitar

Dimitris Giannopoulos - Bass Guitar

Fogg - Bass Guitar

Christos Spiliopoulos - Trombone

Nikos Tattoo Vlachos - Trumpet

Review

Greek Stoner Rockers HONEYBADGER return after a five year absence with their sophomore album Let There Be Light which is another dominant style of Desert Rock, Stoner Rock and Fuzz Rock passages with a sweeping sideline in classic Grunge surroundings. The record has a Classic Rock vibe coming through very early on with boisterous vocals from lead vocalist Dimitris Vardoulakis boosting the HEAVY VOLUMES of the whole album with his excellent vocal performance on his own.

With flashes of CLUTCH, FU MANCHU, KYUSS and QOTSA influences being heard left, right and centre. The added aggression of Grunge adds an extra layer of grooved out heaviness with the band playing with a determined passion throughout the whole album. Let There Be Light is not the most necessarily modern of Stoner Rock/Metal albums but it perfectly captures the golden era of the actual scene which allows HONEYBADGER to develop melodies straight from the top draw on tracks such as Before The Crash, Panic Button, Filth and Disorder, The Green, Empty Handed and Let There Be Light being the songs that will have folks excited the most.

The music is fast-paced and laced with edgy Psychedelic movements which allows the record to continuously offer catchy, aggressive and soulful grooves. There’s a distinctive GARAGE ROCK energy developing within the production values as this record is very stripped back and this allows HONEYBADGER to rely solely on their musical and creative talents to prove what a great Stoner Rock/Metal band they have actually become since their 2020 debut album.

Let There Be Light has a muscular presence that could allow HONEYBADGER to become a firm member of the Greek Stoner Rock/Metal community which already has some amazing bands within their ranks. If you miss the good old days of the Nineties to Mid-Noughties STONER scene then HONEYBADGER have crafted a perfect “TIME CAPSULE” / “TIME MACHINE” of sorts to take you back where you can lose your whole self under a TON of blazing RIFFS of the highest order.

Words by Steve Howe

Let There Be Light is available to buy now on DD/Vinyl via SODEH Records.

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Honeybadger - Pleasure Delayer (Album Review)

Release date: September 18th 2020. Label: Made Of Stone Recordings. Format: DD/Vinyl

Pleasure Delayer – Tracklisting

1.The Wolf 05:30
2.Through Hell 03:36
3.Crazy Ride 05:02
4.Good for Nothing 03:54
5.That Feel 03:32
6.Laura Palmer 04:50
7.Holler 03:51
8.Truth in the Lie 03:45

Members

Dimitris Vardoulakis: Vocals, Guitars
Dimitris Giannnakopoulos: Guitars
Dimitris Yannopoulos: Bass
Vaggelis Oikonomou: Drums

Review

Pleasure Delayer is the new album from Greek Desert/Stoner Rockers Honeybadger and it seems the band are following the same route of Desert/Stoner Rock as their famous countrymen – 1000MODS, Planet Of Zeus, Nightstalker and Naxatras but still showing their own great spin on the genre. Though, these guys focus more on soaring melodies and huge riffs which makes this album a very exciting album. 

The album feels fresh and buoyant in places with Honeybadger playing a more cooler and psychedelic style of Desert Rock with the flashier Stoner Rock/Metal vibes allowing the band to play some LOUD and AGGRESSIVE grooves from start to finish. Honeybadger aren’t afraid to mix the different moods and styles of Stoner Rock here on this album. Everything flows nicely onto the next riff and song with classic moments of KYUSS Stoner Rock with the FUZZ Rock Attitude of TRUCKFIGHTERS being played along the way.

The vocals from Dimitris V (there are 3 Dimitris in this group) are stellar with shades of Classic Rock, Grunge and Prog Rock being heard in his vocal delivery. His vocals are well suited to the Desert/Stoner Rock field and they have a world-weary feel to them but still offering uplifting moments from start to finish.

Standout songs are: The Wolf, Through Hell, Crazy Ride, Laura Palmer and Truth In The Lie. Perhaps the best songs with the heaviest and addictive Psychedelic riffs with fantastic sing-along choruses to get the listener well trained in the riff-tastic ways of HONEYBADGER.

The production flows along superbly well with Honeybadger sounding quite dynamic and powerful that reminds myself of CLUTCH in places.

Pleasure Delayer is the kind of album you want to hear from a debut release. As it shows you what Honeybadger is all about and the riffs are superbly entertaining that has seen the guys receive some cool praise already from the Desert/Stoner Rock scene.

With a Vinyl Release imminent from Made Of Stone Recordings, you have no excuse not to check these guys out. This is another great band to check out from the Greek Stoner Rock Scene and you will be singing along to this album for weeks to come yet...

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp