Wednesday 3 June 2015

Gorgantherron - Second Sun (Album Review)

Second Sun cover art

Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 05th May 2015
Label: Self Released

Second Sun - Track Listing:

1.Second Sun 06:18
2.Superluminal 04:04
3.Bookbinder 06:12
4.Pre-Warp Civilization 06:06
5.Seventh Planet 06:34
6.The Stone 03:40
7.Paranoia 04:13
8.Entropy 04:51
9.Defy 05:56

Members:

Clint Logan-guitar, vocals
Toby Richardson-bass, vocals
Chris Flint-drums, vocals

Bio:

In 1968, a top secret military mission launched three chimpanzees into space. The goal was to test a new vessel designed for deep space exploration. Mookie, Yim-Yim & Steve were to be the first Earth creatures to travel to the end of the known galaxy and beyond. Few expected the animals to survive, but the data collected during the voyage would be invaluable for future expeditions. On August 25, 1968 their ship launched. Sold to the media as the launch of a weather satellite, it went unnoticed. For the next four years the vessel sent flight data and vital signs of the passengers, studied by only a few scientists with the highest security clearance. On January 19, 1972 the last communication was received. The ship had reached the edge of the galaxy and the passengers were still alive. Abruptly, all communications ended. Nevertheless, the scientists used the accumulated data to develop systems that would end up in the Space Shuttle, but the mission itself was forgotten.

Then in early 2010, radio telescopes picked up an unknown object traveling at remarkable speeds. Scientists tracked it until it fell to Earth, landing in rural Indiana. The military responded and were shocked to find wreckage of the ship that had launched in 1968, still blasting an endless loop of Black Sabbath's “Master of Reality” and the first two Iron Maiden albums. However, the ship was found to be empty with no sign of the three chimps. The occurrence was swept under the rug, and scientists were left scratching their heads.

Months later three men appeared claiming to be the very same chimps from the mission. They told of traveling to the Andromeda galaxy and being captured by a race of beings far more advanced than humans...the mighty Gorgantherron. They had been monitoring human progress for centuries and were appalled at humankind's behavior toward each other and their planet. The Gorgantherron used their superior technology to evolve the chimps into stunningly handsome men. They spent years listening to Doom and Black metal. The Gorgantherron considered metal to be one of the few things the miserable humans had gotten right. The three were educated in guitar, bass, and drums, then hurled back to their home planet to warn humankind of the dire consequences of continuing their petty, selfish ways.

Review:

Gorgantherron S/T debut album cover for Second Sun gives the impression of Death/Thrash Metal Band and that is further from the truth. As Gorgantherron play a blend of sci-fi inspired Sludge/Stoner Metal riffs that will have fans of Mastodon, Black Sabbath and High On Fire begging for more. This album is a must have album. No question about it as it's packed full of hard-rocking riffs and a ton of fantastic tunes to entertain you with.

Opening track - Second Sun - is a song that has plenty of bite amongst the fast-paced riffs with great vocals to match. The music itself is a hazy psychedelic take on all things Sludge/Stoner Rock with a hint of Doom Metal for you all Doom Fanatics to enjoy. Expect plenty of guitar solos as Gorgantherron are here to thrill you in every possible way. Classic Hard Rock Guitars appear towards the end and proves that this band means business. The album has a delightful sci-fi influence which only adds to the atmosphere.

Second Track -'Superluminal - sees the band playing a more stripped back approach compared to the opening track though the band offer a more faster style of Sludge/Stoner Rock towards the end of the song with a nice sideline in psychedelic rock. Expect more guitar riffing wizardry as things take a slight Mastodon/Thin Lizzy change of direction. Third Track - Bookbinder - opens with a slow-paced sludgy riff packed with a menacing attitude especially when the vocals have a slight NOLA vibe to them. This is one of the albums standout tracks as it's a slow-paced mysterious affair that allows the band to explore the doomier side of their music. It's quite a creepy affair as the riffs take centre stage with the vocals adding a more delicate balance.

Fourth Track - Pre-Warp Civilization - is the standout track for me as it's a heavy psychedelic instrumental track showing the bands flair and creativity for everyone to witness. It can be quite uplifting at times and that's very hard to do especially with instrumental music. Gorgantherron have no worries here as they unleash one of the albums more exciting tracks. It has shades of 70s Hard Rock merged with modern day Sludge/Stoner Rock theatrics.

The 2nd half of the album doesn't really change direction and why should it? - As the band have created some impressive riffs to excite you with. There's a lot more to come especially from other great tracks to check out such as - Seventh Planet, Paranoia and Defy. The vocals are more impressive in the 2nd half as they become ever more confident with their surroundings despite the sci-fi nature of the lyrics and overall mood of the album.

All you fuzz fanatics will get a kick out of this album as I forgot to mention that there's tons of FUZZ breathing life into the bands style of great music. Second Sun crackles with violent addictive energy and is one album that's been on constant rotation on my MP3 player ever since I bought this album a month ago. If you're into the heavier and psychedelic side of Sludge/Stoner Rock then I recommend you buy this album now as Second Sun is simply unmissable.

Words by Steve Howe

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