MOLARBEAR - A Light To Detonate The World (Single Review)

Release Date: February 28th 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

A Light To Detonate The World - Track Listing:

A Light To Detonate The World

Members

Rowan Morrey

Andy Morrison

Adi Henderson

Dara Monaghan

Dave Boyd

Review

Northern Ireland Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metallers MOLARBEAR return with their new song A Light To Detonate The World and it’s a more Punk Rock driven sound with the band touching upon a Post-Punk and Post-Doom environment compared to their previous tracks. There are moments of Sludge Metal, Noise Rock and Psychedelic Terror coming from every corner which is quite unsettling at times with perhaps a socially aware message being told for the modern day masses. 

The music is quite varied and progressive despite the short running time of the track with MOLARBEAR being influenced by the Hardcore scene compared to the Sludge/Stoner based influences heard on their last few tracks. The song is quite catchy at times especially when the song transforms into a Post-Stoner and Post-Rock offering but mostly MOLARBEAR reign supreme when they keep to the Punk Rock structure of the actual track.

I know the band are focusing on releasing tracks for the time being other than EP or full length album but as I stated in my last review, I’m hoping there’s an endgame in sight where everything will be released as one conclusive package. However, this is still a very good song from MOLARBEAR. It’s the most melodic but it’s not as strong as their last couple of efforts of ERASUREHEAD and TRANSLUCENT TUSK.

Though, I’m still looking forward to the next exciting installment from MOLARBEAR.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

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Molarbear - ERASUREHEAD (Single Review)

Release Date: December 11th 2024. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

ERASUREHEAD - Track Listing:

ERASUREHEAD

Members

Rowan Morrey

Andy Morrison

Adi Henderson

Dara Monaghan

Dave Boyd

Review

ERASUREHEAD is the third single from Northern Ireland’s MOLARBEAR and it’s another destructive path of Sludgy grooves fuelled by GLOOM obsessive NOISE ROCK passages. The track takes a slightly different turn compared to their previous tracks of Translucent Tusk and Felt It. MOLARBEAR are in inspired form channelling sounds from bands such as WHORES, The Melvins and Faith No More in places. The sound is helped along by weird sounding electronic beats which adds a slightly offbeat measure to their music.

The familiar vibes of Doom, Stoner, Psych and Alt Metal sounds are there with quite a Punk Rock sound which sees them venture into areas of music that PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS inject into their music. ERASUREHEAD offers spiky lyrics and harsh vocal arrangements at times with the warped thrash surroundings that allows MOLARBEAR to release a different sounding track once again.

I’m hoping there’s an End Game in sight as we don’t know if this is building upto a new full length album or EP further down the line. Though, three tracks into this exciting musical adventure, MOLARBEAR are keeping those plans close to their chests and deliver perhaps release their most exciting song yet.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

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Molarbear - Translucent Tusk (Single Review)

Release Date: August 30th 2024. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Translucent Tusk - Track Listing:

Translucent Tusk

Line-up:

Rowan Morrey

Andy Morrison

Adi Henderson

Dara Monaghan

Dave Boyd

Review

Translucent Tusk is the new song from Sludge/Stoner Rockers Molarbear and follows a similar destructive route as their previous song Felt It though perhaps a more direct Punk Rock route and with the song being slightly shorter as well running around two and a half minutes in length. 

The song is quite aggressive with Molarbear moving into areas of Noise Rock and Progressive Metal territory that has influences as diverse as WHORES, Red Fang and Mastodon though the band show a dramatic Grunge flair before exploding into areas of Groove Metal and Thrash Metal. 

This is quite a different track compared to Felt It but one that also offers some familiar melodic sounds. I was impressed by the sudden outburst of Psychedelic Rock/Post Rock textures as that was quite unexpected and goes against the grain of what Molarbear have released before. The sound is decidedly catchy and insanely melodic with a superb singalong chorus towards the end of the song. 

Vocals are a mixture of clean vocals, screaming and harsh growls which also gives Translucent Tusk a wild, unexpected and vivid identity of its very own. This is perhaps one of the standout tracks that Molarbear have released in quite some time. I’m hoping to hear more SONIC and CREATIVE experimentation from Molarbear on their future endeavours.

Excellent and Highly Recommended. 

Words by Steve Howe

Links

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Molarbear - Felt It (Single Review)

Release Date: June 14th 2024. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Felt It: Tracklisting

Felt It - 04:09

Review

Northern Ireland Sludge/Stoner Metallers Molarbear return with their new single Felt It and it sees the band change their sound only for the better. Their previous albums saw the band play a mixture of Doom, Sludge, Stoner, Alt Metal and Punk Rock with a chaotic experimental edge. This time round the band bring a bone-crunching Noise Rock aesthetic into the mix with twisted moments of Post-Hardcore seeing influences such as WHORES, MUTOID MAN and BIG BUSINESS being heard within the whole track.

Molarbear draws upon their twisted style of Psychedelic Metal heard on their 2022 album You Will Need Gods but with a more Experimental sound that transforms into a violent form of GUERILLA WARFARE merged with distorted Sludgy guitars that remind me of KOWLOON WALLED CITY in places. The vocals are mostly clean based but they do venture into harsh growls along the way.

Felt It is a non-stop assault on the senses that’s delivered with violent intent and some fantastic psychedelic themes that allows Molarbear once again to bring something fresh and exciting to the table and I’m looking forward to hearing more from these demented riff slingers. 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Molarbear for the promo.

Felt It will be available to buy digitally from Friday 14th June 2024.

Links

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MOLARBEAR - You Will Need Gods (Album Review)

Release Date: December 23rd 2022. Record Label: Cursed Monk Records. Formats: CD/DD

You Will Need Gods - Tracklisting

1.Cataclysm

2.Fail To See 

3.The Chalice

4.Hatchet Storm

5.Harbingers

6.First Layer Of Skin

7.You Will Need Gods

8.Omega Supreme 

9.No Reward

10.Divine Treason

Review

You Will Need Gods is the new album from Northern Ireland Sludge/Stoner Metallers MOLARBEAR who impressed with their 2019 debut album Storklord. Taking a more experimental and riffier approach on this album with echoes of Red Fang, Big Business and the crazed ideas of The Melvins when they switch to a heavier style of Sludge Metal. Add some Noise Rock aggression and bleak soundscapes then MOLARBEAR have a chaotic Punk Rock style with their lyrical content showcasing some fine creative zest within the band.

The opening two songs of Cataclysm and Fail To See are very fast-paced affairs with a Speed Punk energy merged with the aggressive Sludge/Stoner Metal sounds. The vocals have that air of 90’s Grunge and Alternative Metal authority with pissed off clean growls giving a more unsettled approach to their music. However, that doesn’t stop the band adding a more upbeat Stoner Metal sound that Red Fang have become known for over the years. MOLARBEAR show their true creative selves on the excellent third track of The Chalice. A song that is aggressively natured but one that offers moments of sweet-natured melodic guitars before changing into a more gloomier style of Sludge Metal.

MOLARBEAR upped the ante yet again on the fourth track Hatchet Storm by playing a more THRASHIER style of music with that seedy Punk Rock vibe that still allows the band to be part of the overall WEEDIAN scene. Even if the music is more OUT THERE compared to other tracks on the album.

With a cool sideline in Psychedelic Metal and Apocalyptic creative approach on the later stages of the album, MOLARBEAR excel the most when they think outside of the box and play some of the albums heaviest and harshest sounds on tracks such as: Harbingers, First Layer Of Skin, You Will Need Gods, Omega Supreme and Divine Treason.

MOLARBEAR perhaps maybe too experimental for some but there’s some fantastic guitar solos and riffs waiting to be heard on You Will Need Gods. There’s a wealth of different noises and themes on this album which the band ultimately impresses with.

You Will Need Gods is a love letter to the more experimental side of 90's Alt Metal, Sludge Metal and Stoner Metal that still sounds essentially modern which is perhaps down to the fantastic production values the album ultimately contains. 

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Cursed Monk Records for the promo. 

You Will Need Gods will be available to buy on CD/DD via Cursed Monk Records from December 23rd 2022.

Links

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