With a line up change that finds Ben Jackson gone and bass player Laura Phillips taking over the mic, the first song of their new album strikes me as sounding more like other female fronted doom, and less of the rock n roll feel that not only Jackson's voice brought but his songwriting as well. "Shadows" does begin to work in the more progressive grooves the band once travelled into. Phillips does have a decent voice. She can use a subtle moan, that gives things a dreamy feel in places, along with belt it out or scream as called for. They embrace a more jammy side when the guitar solo is given the room to playfully extend.
"Better Days" has more of a Royal Thunder feel. With this comparison comes soulful singing and a moodier introspection. When the dynamics bring a heavier punch, there is a more organic tone than your typical metal gain which plays to their favor. "Red Giant" works off a pretty heavy groove and continues to find the band moving in a more metallic direction. They continue in the metal direction with "Toxic Annihilator" , but picking up the pace to a taunt chug.
When the album veers into more psychedelic jams there is a looser sense to it that the more focused arrangments of past albums. The production is also not as refined though this might be to acheive more of a retro sound. "Tomorrow's Sky" has a more rambling rock sound to it. The guitar solos are well done, but also jammy and perhaps not as focused, though that to might be the point of their new direction. I will give this album an 8.5, it's good for what it is and might grow on me, though I think I prefer the previous incarnation of the band. This is still one of the best vest metal, proto stoner doom or what ever you kids want to call this sort of thing that I have heard in a minute.
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