Weedsnake - Grimorium Cannabinarum (Album Review)

Release Date: November 17th 2023. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD

Grimorium Cannabinarum - Tracklisting

1.Iniciación 04:14

2.Ritual 05:43

3.María 05:27

4.Magia Oscura 06:26

5.Humos Púrpura 07:52

6.Hechicerdo 08:04

7.Leche de Hongo 09:41

Members

Jack Amsler - Vocals

Etziel Méndez - Guitar

Fernando Cabrera - Drums

Nicolás Silveira- Bass

Review

Mexican Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metallers Weedsnake return with their new album Grimorium Cannabinarum which features a more seedier and elevated sound from the band compared to their last full length album. Taking a slightly Progressive and Psychedelic direction with moments of Thrash appearing within the earlier stages of the album on songs such as Iniciacion and Ritual. The flow is very organic with Weedsnake blending tribal mysticism within both the vocals and instrumental work which the band play a slow-to-mid pace style which builds upto quite an atmospheric sound with moments of delicately played DOOMED OUT FUZZ.

The production values are quite low-key and muted but still allows Weedsnake to deliver punishing slabs of finely tuned Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal which they've been pulverising the underground senses since 2011 when their debut album was released. Jack's vocals continue with the style of Death Based Growls which allows Weedsnake to have quite an EXTREME METAL element to them. The grooves mostly consist of modern day WEEDIAN and NOLA grooves with sublime examples of wicked guitar solos and extended instrumental jams.

The rhythm section of Fernando and Nicolas on Drums and Bass respectively is perhaps where the most punishing sounds appear from Weedsnake. The sludgy Psychedelics give a more HALLUCINOGENIC or DRUG FUELLED energy to the album especially on tracks such as Mari, Magio Oscura and Humos Púrpura. Flashes of violent distorted droned sounds appear constantly which allows the thumping bass to take centre stage which drifts from one sleazy downtuned environment to the next.

Grimorium Cannabinarum does have a vintage SLEAZY quality oozing from the production side of things which is also helped along by stellar mastering duties from Esben Willems (MONOLORD) at his famed Studio Berserk. The most outlandish parts of the album appear within the final two tracks of Hechicerdo and Leche de Hongo where a sinister Progressive movement allows Weedsnake to continue their devilish and doomed out delivery of the WEEDIAN scene. Capturing a more frantic 1970's Doom Metal attitude whilst blending this with the folklore of 1990's Sludge and Stoner Metal for a non-stop FUZZ attack on the senses. 

Weedsnake do offer moments of fast-paced frenzied energy on the later stages of the record which showcases a more adventurous style of music from the band when the time calls for this. Overall, Grimorium Cannabinarum perhaps offers Weedsnake their most sinister, violent, aggressive and stunning release to date with the band proving why they are one of the most important and essential bands to come from the Mexican Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal scene. This is an album with a real venomous bite which will no doubt go down a treat with the global underground scene.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe 

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Weedsnake - Cannabinoide (Album Review)

Release date: July 22^nd 2019. Label: Self Released Format: DD

Cannabinoide – Tracklisting

1.Homocannabilis 11:01

2.Dulce Néctar 06:26

3.Hierba de Bruja 06:27

4.Humo en el Aire 10:33

5.Drogadicto 04:06

6.En Busca del Cualquier 05:48

Members

Alex - Vocals

Etziel - Guitar

Furias - Bass

Nico- Drums

Review

One of my favourite Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal bands from Mexico – Weedsnake – return with Cannabinoide and it’s their most ambitious, riifiest and strangest album get. This album sees the band add a more grown-up “WEEDIAN” and PSYCHEDELIC flavour to their overall sound. The music is more progressive with the band adding lengthier strands of Sludge based grooves to their music.

Cannabinoide is an album built on an intriguing premise and sees Weedsnake create a nightmarish world where the Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal sounds combine for a gloomy audio experience.

Opening song – Homocannabilis – opens with a lengthy Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal instrumental vibe that shows you how the music will be played for the majority of the album. The vocals from Alex come creeping in around the 6 minute mark and there more growls than actual vocals. The riffs are KING here but Alex does make his presence feel known when his eerie growls appear. They fully come into focus around the 8 minute mark. The atmosphere becomes ever slightly demonic with Weedsnake relying on their Doom Metal tendencies for the rest of this song.

Second song - Dulce Néctar – carries on the warped and gloomy heavy psychedelic sound with the Stoner Metal being the main driving force here. It’s good to see Weedsnake adding a more “Classic” vibe to the overall atmosphere. The vocals from Alex maybe on the “brutal” side of things. However, the music is quite addictive and has some solid touches of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal that make Weedsnake such an exciting band to listen to.

If you dig bands such as SLEEP, CONAN, Electric Wizard, COUGH and Black Sabbath but with a more demonic outlook on life then Weedsnake will speak volumes to you. Cannabinoide is quite surreal in places and you can tell that by the fantastic artwork. The band aren’t afraid to explore their Psychedelic influences and they create a nightmarish sound at times on the album.

Other great songs to check out are: Hierba de Bruja, Humo en el Aire and En Busca del Cualquier. As Weedsnake play some of the heaviest and angriest parts of the album on these songs alone.

The vocals maybe too heavy for the “Casual” Stoner Metal fan. So be prepared for a violent onslaught of Death Based Growls amongst the superbly played riffs. Alex’s vocals add an exciting level of brutality to Weedsnake’s sound and the band thrive bringing something different to the table.

Overall, Cannabinoide is perhaps the best album that Weedsnake have released to date and proves that the Mexican Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal scene is worth giving a DAMN about.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp