Sunday 6 April 2014

INWOODS - Slow Season - Album Review

Slow Season EP cover art

Album Type: Album
Date Released: March 9th 2014
Label: Self Released

Slow Season track listing:

1.Slow Season 05:27
2.Djun 03:45
3.Van Song 05:31
4.Infomercial 04:33
5.Stone Mask 07:32
6.Hole of Slumber 08:58

Bio:

Combining musicians from several local Adelaide bands, Inwoods is the product of four guys with a passion for slow, heavy groove based jams and emotive chord progressions. Formed by ex-The Fak vocalist, Tyson Mahoney recruited old long-time friend Kif Kelly (of the thekillbotfactory) and Jared Hunter (former Trinity Road drummer) to jam and flesh out his skeletal ideas and blue prints for songs. It didn't take long and their sound started to define itself in a particularly sludgy and grungy stoner rock mood that began gaining people's attention.

After gigging for a few months and feeling the need for a second guitarist, the trio brought in Jordan Buck (The Dead Bells, Monsieur Swing, Ride Into The Sun) who was an instant match with tone and playing style, strengthening their sound and giving another influence and creative mind to the mix. At that point Inwoods became part of the Twisted Echidna Bookings family and with their heavy, mind numbing riffs, catchy leads, low fuzzy bass, melodic vocals and shitty drummer, the band garnered some hype as a loud and powerful live act.

In November 2013 they decided to lay down some tracks with Nick from Southern Music at Riverside Rehearsals. Recorded live originally intended as demos before an album release, the quality of which turned out to be of such a standard that the band are releasing it as their first available release for purchase. Inwoods are now looking to release these recordings as the EP titled ‘Slow Season’ in the first quarter of 2014. Taking influence from a wide range of genres, Inwoods combines the heaviness of doom and stoner with the mindset of bands from the grunge, post rock and early heavy metal eras to produce a sound that's familiar yet totally new.

The Band Members

Kif Kelly - Bass
Tyson Mahoney - Guitar/Vocals
Jared Hunter - Drums
Jordan Buck - Guitar

Review:

WOW – Well this album took me as a major surprise as I wasn't expecting something this good!!!

Australian Psych Sludge/Stoner/Grunge Rockers – Inwoods – have delivered a hard rocking and excellent album packed with plenty of riffs. Their début album – Slow Season – will grab your throat from the very first riff of superb opening track – Slow Season – which shows you what to expect for the next 35 mins or so.

A great style of different noises and sounds from Sludge, Doom, Stoner and Grunge with a delicate Psychedelic edge. A few people advised me to check this band out recently but I stupidly ignored their advice. Apologies to everyone. You are all right. Inwoods are a fucking great band and this album is superb. No Question!!!

If you're a fan of Soundgarden and Alice In Chains then you're going to be in musical heaven as Inwoods have channelled the same vibe from those legendary bands especially on tracks such as Djun and Van Song. Though Inwoods fuse heavy slabs of Sludgy based Stoner Metal vibes into their music to stand out from the crowd.

Inwoods have such a refreshing and original sound of their own that one minute you could be listening to all out grunge then the band switch gears and start playing Sludge/Stoner Metal riffs that comes out of nowhere. It can get very trippy at times especially on 4th track – Infomercial – which has a slight creepy edge matched against a slow paced guitar riff before Inwoods start adding different noises and textures to the mix. Probably my fave track from the album. It may not be the loudest but it's definitely one of the most inventive tracks here on the album.

Inwoods end the album with two epic minute tracks – Stone Mask and Hole Of Slumber – which lasts for 16.30 minute or so. This is where Inwoods prove once and for all what a fantastic and hugely inventive band they actually are. As they have written some spellbinding riffs to drown yourself in. Things get very Doomy indeed especially on Hole Of Slumber. Inwoods throw everything into the mix for one final pulsating battle that will leave you begging for more.

Slow Season is a breathtaking début album from a true talent indeed. If you want something refreshing to get your pulse racing then this is the album for you. Inwoods will hopefully have a very bright future indeed as these Aussie Rockers have it all. Talent and a brilliant début album.

You can download this album on Buy Now Download on BandCamp now. You won't regret downloading his album.

Awesome Stuff.

Check The Band From Links Below


Written by Steve Howe