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
