Sunday 26 April 2015

Weedpecker - II (Album Review)

II cover art

Album Type: Album
Date Released: April 30th 2015
Label: Self Released

II - Track Listing

1.Reality Fades
2.Flowering Dimensions
3.Fat Karma 05:28
4.Nothingness
5.Into The Woods
6.The Vibe
7.Already Gone

Members:

Wyro-guitar & vocal
Bartek-guitar & vocal
Mroku-bass
Falon-drums

Bio:

Weedpecker was born in Warsaw circa 2012, when the Dobry bros. (Wyro and Bandos) decided to match their dreamy psychedelic rock tunes with some stoner heavy grungy riffing…soon joined Pan Falon as drummer who plays also for ultraslow doomers Belzebong. After the summer of 2012 the lineup was completed with the Spanish bassist Jeso, who was earlier in some extreme acts like Looking For An Answer and Antigama. In April 2013 they recorded their first self titled album and since then they have been promoting it supporting bands like Elder, Naam or Mars Red Sky.

Review:

Weedpecker caused bit of a stir back in 2013 when they released their acclaimed S/T debut album. It had a stunning mix of Psychedelic Spaced Out Cosmic Stoner Metal riffs with a nice sideline in loud fuzz. Weedpecker are back with their new album – II.

II carries on the magic Weedpecker beautifully created on their debut album but adds a louder and spacier vibe that will have you on the edge of your seat. Opening track – Reality Fades – starts off as a blissful post-rock song with hints of cosmic fuzz slowly playing the background and then the sublime laid-back vocals start taking you to sunnier climates as Weedpecker build a serene wall of noise and calm at the same time. As the song progresses the band slowly start adding Stoner/Space Rock riffs before all hell breaks loose as the FUZZ goes into overdrive.

Second track – Flowering Dimensions – carries on the Spacey Post Rock guitar with elements of Psychedelic Rock offering a more serene and quiet affair. The dual vocals of Wyro and Bartek offer brief vocal passages though it's the slow-paced riffs that hold your attention as Weedpecker come louder with each second. The song may start as a tranquil piece but give it a few moments as Weedpecker unleash some of the albums heaviest riffs they've created so far.

Third Track – Fat Karma – is a song that some of you may know already has it's been played heavily on YouTube and within The Doom/Stoner Metal community. And why not? - This track is what Weedpecker are all about. Gigantic riffs drenched in LOUD FUZZ and VIOLENT FEEDBACK that sees the band focus more on the Fuzz and Stoner Metal side of their music. The vocals are another highlight as they have a distorted Space Rock quality that more than matches the Spacey riffs on offer here.

Those three tracks should tell you what to expect for the remainder of the album. Heavy Cosmic Riffs with Weedpecker offering a different style of Stoner Metal that I haven't heard in a long time. One of the other great tracks to look out for is Nothingness – as it sees the band in a more reflective and heartbreaking mood though it's still a loud as hell affair packed with great riffs. Can this be classed as Weedpecker's Lighter/Mobile In The Air style song. Maybe as it has some haunting lyrics that obviously mean something personally to the band.

Weedpecker have created a sonic experience that demands your full attention as this is one of the most powerful Stoner Metal albums you'll hear all year. II is a contender for one of the albums of the year. Brilliant.

Thanks to the band for the promo. II will be available to buy from April 30th 2015.

Words by Steve Howe

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