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This band's 2023 album made our top 10 Stoner Rock albums for 2023. There is less of a grunge haze this time around and more of a Queens of the Stone Age-like precision, which is not shocking considering the genre they find themselves in. There is a more deliberate metal chug in places on the opener that works well for the soulful vocals to belt it out over. "Midnight Express" carries a much more deliberate doomy stomp. The more Alice in Chains-like vocal returns on this song. I like that it is darker than the opening track.
The guitars in "Killer Khan" are even more aggressive as the album continues to move in a heavier direction. Seems like there are some subtle and not-so-subtle references to wrestling, "Corner Lariat" being one of them. Funny enough, it's a more melodic, less aggressive song. It feels like what some of the metal bands were doing in the mid-90s as the grunge era waned. The more uptempo "Banacek" is the first song that feels more like filler to me. The vocal melodies feel more obligatory half the time. The one-half time riff is cool, but "cool riffs does not a song make" is the rule here.
The more blues-glazed "They Did Know Karate" sounds more like what I want from these guys. There is a touch of doom to it without being Black Sabbath worship. That said, there is a slight hint of "Children of the Grave" to "Gimme the Lute", though it also shares some sonic space with Corrosion of Conformity." Corvette Summer" closes the album with a more blatant metal gallop. The verse riff reminds me of Mercyful Fate. This is a fun album, and these guys continue to perfect what they do. I will give it a 9.5 and see how it grows on me.Being released on Metal Blade Records May 15th.
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