Release Date: July 19th 2024. Record Label: Small Stone Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl
Dismantle: Tracklisting
1.Blind Eye
2.Aviator
3.Horses
4.Drawing Names
5.Storms
6.NRNS
7.You’re the Sea
8.The Getaway
9.Through the Looking Glass
10.Interstellar
Members
Matt Whitehead: guitar and vocals
Rob Elzey: drums
Jeff Baucom: bass
Additional musicians:
J Robbins: percussion, synths, and guitar
Bo Leslie: guitar
Review
Psych Doom/Stoner Rockers SHUN made a great impression with their acclaimed 2021 self-titled debut album which sees the band explore their Progressive sound onto bigger and greater heights. SHUN are perhaps more confident with the Space Rock and Sludge Rock aspect of their music which is quite apparent with the superb opening track Blind Eye.
Blind Eye has a familiar quality and feel associated with bands such as HUM, CAVE IN and TOOL but more than capable of conjuring up their own great style of Post-Stoner and Post-Grunge attitude that appears with certain parts of the track. The vocals are stunning with Matt Whitehead’s vocals having a classic Stoner Rock attitude which moves into the areas of Doom Rock, Grunge, Psych Rock and Doomgaze with expert delivery. The instrumental passages showcase what is forthcoming for the rest of the album with SHUN never afraid to try different sounds and techniques to what appeared on their debut album.
Second song Aviator has a sludgy movement that blends Anthemic Rock and Commercial Hard Rock at times but the constant reliance on Post-Doom and Space Rock attitudes continuously impresses whatever direction the music takes you upon. If you ever wondered what CAVE IN would sound like but with a more POST-GRUNGE vibe then Aviator is the best way to describe that track. The song is melodic and sonically aggressive at the same time which should give folks the best of both worlds.
Third song Horses takes a more gloomier and distorted sound with Matt’s vocals becoming quite direct at times but this suits into the overall delivery of the song with SHUN blending almost Metallic surroundings with the Progressive Doom/Stoner Metal instrumental parts that gives way to some of the best grooves and moments held within on the album.
Fourth song Drawing Names using heavy atmospheric Post-Rock sounds which almost cross over into Post-Metal territory whilst firmly remaining within the confinements of the Post-Stoner environments where band such as King Buffalo and Howling Giant that SHUN play on this album whilst still striving to create their own individual sound and ultimately succeeding. The use of Psychedelic and Cosmic effects allows the music to become quite peaceful whilst offering moments of aggressive outbursts of intense music along the way.
SHUN delves into other areas of Doom/Stoner Rock with first rate cinematic storytelling appearing within tracks such as Storms, You’re The Sea, Through The Looking Glass and Insterstellar being the other standout parts of the album. SHUN offer that fantastic and haunting Post-Rock score within the later stages of the record which allows them to inject sublime Synths which brings a more adventurous flavour to their dominant style of Stoner Rock/Metal. You can hear echoes of bands such as DEFTONES starting to appear which shows you why SHUN aren’t your average Doom/Stoner Metal band.
Dismantle is an epic sounding album which is backed up by first rate production values that will see SHUN to continue to gain further recognition, prominence and momentum within the Doom/Stoner Metal scenes to promote their brilliant music.
Simply Unmissable. End Of.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Earsplit PR for the promo.
Dismantle will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Small Stone Recordings from Friday July 19th 2024.
Links
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