Monday 31 March 2014

HOLY MOUNTAIN - ANCIENT ASTRONAUTS - Album Review


Album Type:Album
Date Released: April 7th 2014
Label: Chemikal Underground Records

Ancient Astronauts - track listing:

1. LV-42666
2. Luftwizard
3. Ancient Astronauts
4. Star Kings
5. Tokyo
6. Gift Giver
7. 100 Years A Day
8. Hollow Hill

Bio:

Fast as fuck, fleein' all the time, Running through the forest, traveling through time.

The Band Members

Andy McGlone - riffs and solos
Pete Flett - drums and gurns
Allan Stewart - Bass and cockney rhyming slang

Review:

Scottish Stoner Rockers – Holy Mountain – are back with their eagerly awaited debut album – Ancient Astronauts. Following 2 years after their mini debut album – Earth Measures back in 2012, we now see this hard-rocking power-trio leaving their earthly bodies behind and venture far out into the cosmos. As Holy Mountain have turned into a Psychedelic Riff-Slaying Space Rockers.

Well obviously, the album title gives it away. I mean, come on – Ancient Astronauts. That is quite a big clue on where this album is heading. Psychedelic Space/Stoner Riffs that will have you hooked from the very first riff.

Opening track – LV-42666 – is a hard-rocking track that is very big on ideas and riffs in equal measure. Obviously, the title of the song will be a sly wink to the science fiction fans amongst you all mixed with the sign of the devil as well.. This is great opening track to open the album with. Spacey Stoner Rock riffs played at a frantic pace, which will have you hooked from the start.

2nd track – Luftwizard – is where the band shows their true colours by venturing into gigantic Space Rock territory, which adds huge layers of riffs with ambient based noises and vocals playing in the background. It may sound like one gigantic chaotic mess but Holy Mountain is made of sterner stuff and it shows how talented this band actually is. It is a noise rock-space rock-stoner rock extravaganza as Holy Mountain leave no stoner or meteorite unturned for your listening pleasure. You ever wonder what an – sounds like in space. Well this is about as close you will probably get to that feeling. This is an intense blast of different noises and sounds that will have you hooked for days.

You can tell this is a different band from their last release – Earth Measures. As Holy Mountain have added more sonic experimentation to their music. It’s a beautiful surreal journey come to life that becomes stranger with each passing moment and I mean that as a compliment as it shows Holy Mountain are a band with a unique vision of their own.
3rd track – Ancient Astronauts – is where the band bring the heaviness to the party with blistering fast paced riffs that come out of nowhere to rock your entire galaxy. Holy Mountain infuse Stoner Rock riffage with out-of-this world Space Rock and it is a joy to listen to as it turns into an intergalactic jamming session.

That vibe is carried onto the next track – Star King – which is potentially one of the albums standout tracks as Holy Mountain have created a more weirder atmosphere compared to earlier tracks. Hazy sentinel like vocals give this track a SLEEP and OM like quality with pulsating Stoner/Space/Psych riffage to match. My advice is to play this track as loud as you can and chill out with the spacey riffs as this track will take you to the further reaches of space without leaving the comfort of your own home.

As you can tell, Ancient Astronauts is going to appeal to all fans of Psychedelic Stoner Rock. Holy Mountain have delivered a stunning album that will surely see them win acclaim as one of Scotland’s best upcoming Stoner Rock bands that you have to check out.

If you need another reason to buy this album then I will say to check out the epic last track – Hollow Hill – that is worth it for the purchase of the album alone. As it feels like a spiritual successor to Sleep’s classic album – Dopesmoker. It carries the same vibe as that legendary album. It’s a Space Opera come to life as when the band let loose with some heavy riffs it feels like a gigantic explosion in space signalling the end of all civilisation everywhere.

Ancient Astronauts is such a superb album that I cannot recommend highly enough. The album is expertly played and produced by all involved, as it is such a massive sounding album that you will need many listens to get the full effect of this bands epic sound.

Brilliant. End Of.

Thanks to Holy Mountain and Chemikal Underground Records for sending us a promo to review. Ancient Astronauts will be available to buy from April 7th 2014 on CD/DD/Vinyl.

Check The Band From Links Below


Written by Steve Howe