Cover artwork by Greig Clifford |
The first thing you notice, is the clean production sound and sharp performances on the record. 'Supervolcano' gets off to a rolling start with three quick, high energy, fast paced tracks, then crests the top of the hill on "Grinding Down the Sun" and there are no brakes. Closing track "Mars" hits the NOX and the listener is convinced that this album can and will blast off into outer space.
Death Ape Disco's use of high harmonies is often striking, the chords they hit upon are momentous and bold, they are the runway from which the album takes off. One part Beach Boys, one part Alice in Chains, one part Black Crowes, but distinctly Death Ape. By the time "Grinding Down The Sun" plays out, it's clear that this is the band's signature, these complex harmonies take over the entire affair, before arriving at the band's eponymous track, which is dominated by close harmonies. Vocalist Rob Rainford is joined by guitarist Kit Brice to amazing effect, providing an unholy amount of momentum to the affair. It's a tricky balancing act to have to pull off, especially live, which is why, I suspect, the technique isn't often used by underground bands. When a band gets it right, it's impressive and terrific. When they fall a bit wide of the mark, the sound can veer towards ... Nickelback territory. Fortunately, this band gets it right far more often than not.
Photo taken from melodic-hardrock.com |
At the end of the day, 'Supervolcano' is a terrific hard rock album infused with more than a touch of grunge and southern metal in the C.O.C., B.L.S. vein. It will surely get the blood pumping through that mangy old corpse and I would recommend this album to anyone with even a passing interest in rock music from the nineties and beyond.
Highlights include: "Kingdom of Others" and "Death Ape Disco"
Rating: 4/5
Total Run Time: 34:10
Rob Rainford - vocals
Kit Brice - guitar, vocals
James Boulstridge - guitar
Sam Curtis - monkeybass
Harry Lehane - drums
From: Brighton, UK
Genre: Hard Rock, Stoner, Grunge, Southern Metal
Reminds me of: Alice in Chains, Fen, Mexicoma, VolumeFeeder
Release Date: March 6, 2013
Suggested listening activity for fellow non-stoners: Get in your shopping cart and roll down from the very top of the hill. Pick up whatever mangled limbs remain, push cart back up to the top of the hill. Repeat.
Better Review:
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good review, Eclipse is a sublime tune :)
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