Thursday 27 March 2014

Hotel Wrecking City Traders - Ikiyro - Album Review

Ikiryo cover art

Album Type: Album
Date Released: April 16th 2014
Label: Bro Fidelity Records

Ikiyro track listing:

1.Breath
2.Riley 04:15
3.Dance the Hempen Jig
4.Tetryl
5.Ikiryo

Bio:

Hotel Wrecking City Traders (HWCT) have been dislodging earwax, busting strings and sticks and blowing minds since 2007. HWCT are an instrumental noise rock duo with a heavy focus on improvisation and a love of loud volume and the psychedelic. Their sound is ever-evolving and expansive, breaking down genre’s and throwing them in a melting pot with hypnotic results.

Ben Wrecker was also personally invited by Winnebago Deal (UK) to play drums in the band on their debut tour of Australia in 2008. In 2010, the band released a collaborative LP with Desert Rock Forefather Gary Arce (Yawning Man, Dark Tooth Encounter, Sort of Quartet) on Bro Fidelity Records (Australia) // Cobraside Distribution (USA).An offer from Gary that eventuated from HWCT supporting Ten East on tour in Australia in 2009. Ben Wrecker was also personally invited to play drums by Nick Oliveri (Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age) in his Mondo Generator project in 2010 for a US tour w/ Aussie's Violent Soho and Tweak Bird (USA).

HWCT have played shows in support of: Saint Vitus (USA), Russian Circles (USA), Eagle Twin (USA), Thrones (USA), Ten East (USA), Earthless (USA), Om (USA), Black Cobra (USA), Monarch (France), Karma to Burn (USA), Grey Daturas (Aust), Winnebago Deal (UK), The Hard-Ons (Aust) and many more…

In November, 2012, then band toured Japan for the first time, taking in 8 dates across the country with Aussie's Spider Goat Canyon and a split album 'Japan Tour Split' - was released in honor of the tour on Bro Fidelity Records.

In 2014, the band will embark on their first tour of Europe with a slot at the annual Desertfest Festival in London. They will be the first ever Australian band to be invited to play this prestigious festival. They are recording their 3rd full length LP in January 2014, with Jason PC (Brutal Truth) set to be released in conjunction with their European Tour, as well as an extensive tour of their homeland of Australia.

The Band Members

Ben - One Drumkit
Toby - One Guitar

Review:

After 6 longs years – Hotel Wrecking City Traders – are back with their new album since 2008. OK they may have released a few EP’s and split albums since then but this is the main event. A new album from one of Australia’s finest exports of Instrumental Psych Desert/Space/Stoner Rock music to slay you with. And what an album to come back with.
Ikiryo is a stunning 37-minute album that will entertain you from start to finish. The band have really upped their game on this record, as the riffs are heavier, spacier and definitely more out there compared to previous HWCT releases. 

Fans should rejoice as these psychedelic riff-lords have delivered one of the finest instrumental records of 2014.

It’s full of twists and turns that will leave you guessing on the edge of your seat as the guys take you on a journey through time and space. It’s a very multi-layered album that shows why the band is highly thought of. Opening track – Breath – is a lush psychedelic epic song, which shows you what to expect for the rest of the album. Spacey Doom-like addictive riffs played with a real soulful purpose with a dangerous sonic edge hidden in the background.

2nd track – Riley – is a 4 minute affair where the band are more direct in their approach as they play at a fast pace compared to the first track. Though it’s equally as breathtaking as the band lay down superb riffs for you to rock out to. An eerie Desert/Stoner Rock vibe brings this track to its natural conclusion. A hazy psychedelic journey that stands out as one of the albums finest tracks.

3rd track – Dance The Hempen Jig – is another weird wonderful sounding odyssey started by some impressive guitar playing before the drums kick this song into overdrive. This track has a slight Pelican vibe to it and that is no bad thing as HTWC makes it sound so fresh and original. It has a heavy reverb fuzz atmosphere lurking in the background, which gives this track a dangerous hard rocking edge.

Though it’s the last two tracks and 20 minutes of intense music that make this album such an unmissable experience as HWCT pull out all the stops with some of the best riffs of their entire career. 4th track – Tetryl – is a masterclass of psychedelic Stoner Rock riffs with that added zest of Space Rock that make it quite an addictive listen. Though HWCT add layers of sonic noises to give listeners something refreshing to listen to.

Though its’ the epic last track – Ikiryo – which runs for a mind-expanding 13 mins or so. And this is where HWCT unleash their cosmic riffs on an epic scale. This song will leave you on the edge of your seat and begging for more as this is one track you won’t soon forget. Instrumental Space/Stoner Rock at it’s finest. Wait until the band start adding sonic based atmospherics to this track, as it becomes one of the loudest tracks that HWCT have written so far. It’s a brilliant track to end the album though still tinged with a hint of sadness and asking you one final question.

Do we have to wait another 6 years for the next HWCT album? Let’s hope not!

An Incredible Album. End Of.

Ikiryo will be released on CD/DD from April 2014 from BandCamp. Thanks to Ben Matthews at Bro Fidelity Records for sending me a promo to review.

Check The Band From Links Below


Written by Steve Howe