Album Type:Album
Date Released:
June
3rd
2014
Label:
Wicker
Man Recordings
LONE WOLF vs
BROWN BEAR - track listing:
1. Hippocastanum
Warrior
2. Keiko's Last
Smile
3. Return Of The
Wildebeest
4. Wolves Wood
5. Rum Guts
(Cetopsis Candirus)
6. Don't Piss In The
River (Vandella Cirrhosa)
7. Beelzebeer Blues
8. Lone Wolf Vs.
Brown Bear
9. Sea Of Witches
Bio:
In
the last two years, Old Man Lizard's recorded output and live shows
have attracted the attention of critics and music fans as well as
record labels; and 2014 will see the release of their debut album
(recorded with Slabdragger's Sam Thredder) on Ampullae Audio records,
as well as a split with Earthmass on Big Riff Records. In addition to
these two releases, Old Man Lizard are planning both UK and European
tours this year - 2014 will be loud... Formed in Autumn 2011, Old Man
Lizard wasted no time in recording and self-releasing a five track EP
(http://oldmanlizard.bandcamp.com/album/old-man-lizard) showcasing
their uniquely heavy and majestic sound.
Complete
with beautiful artwork from Michael Dicken
(http://cargocollective.com/michaeldicken), the EP quickly gathered
attention and critical praise leading to a slew of invitations to
play venues all over the country - from converted churches to the
legendary Underworld, London.
In
their short time as a band, Old Man Lizard have shared stages with
seminal bands Dead Meadow, Arabrot, and Honky to name just a few, and
have already been booked to play alongside heavyweights Conan and
Dopethrone this year. Made up of Jack Newnham (also of Meadows -
Superfi Records, Head of Crom Records), Gav Senior, and Dan Beales;
Old Man Lizard are a power trio in the same vein as Cream or Blue
Cheer, but the influences of contemporary bands from Taint to Yawning
Man set Old Man Lizard apart from the often crowded and unvaried
sludge and stoner scenes. Not content to retread the same old tired
ground, Old Man Lizard make exciting and original heavy music without
compromising the art of the riff.
The
Band Members
Jack
Newnham - guitar and vocals
Gav
Senior - bass
Dan
Beales - drums
Review:
I
have been waiting a very long time for this album. And I am pleased
to say it's been worth the fucking wait. I originally became aware of
Old Man Lizard back in Feb 2012 when I featured their excellent debut
EP. It was a stunning blend of Stoner, Sludge, Doom metal riffs.
Well
it's time for their debut album – Lone Wolf vs Brown Bear – a
highly dangerous and volatile mix of Sludge, Doom, Stoner, Blues and
Country music. Now don't let the Country aspect put you off as you
will be missing out on something special here.
Old
Man Lizard call their music – Stoner Noir/Country-Sludge. Their
music is more of a crazy bastardized offspring of TAINT, Torche,
Kyuss and Baroness. Now if that doesn't get your attention nothing
will.
First
track - Hippocastanum Warrior – starts with a fuzzy based
slow-paced riff before exploding into life with some heavy pounding
vibes being played for maximum effect. The vocals have a crazy
psychedelic vibe to them before the band play a soothing country
based riff with the doomy sludge/stoner metal riffs unleashing a
violent tornado for maximum effect. Hell yeah, I am starting to feel
the crazy as hell vibe that Old Man Lizard have running through out
the album.
2nd
track – Keiko's Last Smile – carries on the distorted crazy riffs
once again as Old Man Lizard play one of the albums standout tracks
with mega conviction. The vocals add a sense of danger as they fuse
Baroness and TAINT style riffs to the mix for one wild ride. The
drumming is the main standout here as Dan beats the hell out of the
drum skins to show who is BOSS!!!
3rd
Track – Return Of The Wilderbeest – is more of a bluesy hard rock
number with a punk rock groove being thrown in as well. You can tell
by now that the band play by their own rules and they don't give a
fuck what anyone thinks. Just sit back and enjoy the ride as it's
going to be exciting, loud and noisy as hell.
The
album has a distinctive rustic DIY feel to it as the album feels it
was recorded outside in the great Alaskan wilderness never mind
inside a studio. If you were disappointed by Baroness last album –
Yellow & Green and waiting for the loud epic riffs which don't
really appear. Well that's what Old Man Lizard have delivered. An
album that Baroness should of made but failed to do so. As Old Man
Lizard expertly combine different elements for one insane ride you
won't soon forget about.
Old
Man Lizard make you feel you are stranded in the great outdoors
watching the fight that is going to take place on the excellent album
cover. The albums last track – Sea Of Witches – is the standout
track as it's a pure blues-sludge-stoner metal onslaught of intense
riffs which shows you what the band is all about. There is a
fantastic hidden track towards the end which earns the bands
Country/Rustic tag. It may not be quite Deliverance but it's a superb
banjo track to end the album on.
Lone
Wolf vs Brown Bear is a brilliant album. Plain and Simple.
Thanks
to Old Man Lizard and Hans at Wicker Man Recordings for sending me a
promo to review. Lone Wolf vs Brown Bear will be available to buy on
CD/DD from June 3rd
2014.
Check
The Band From Links Below
Written
by Steve Howe
