Album Type:
Album
Date Released:
11th
November 2014
Label:
RidingEasy Records
Mountains -
track listing:
01 68
02 Synanon
03 King City
04 Damo's Days
05 Shake
06 Ain't Gonna
Listen
07 Endless Mountain
08 Wasted Years
09 Apparition
10 The Defector
Members
Daniel Rice –
Vocals, guitar
David Kent –
Guitar
Hayden Doyel –
Bass
Cody Tarbell –
Drums
Review:
I
listened to Mountains with a little sense of fear and trepidation as
it has nothing to do with Sludge, Stoner Rock and Doom Metal in any
shape or form. Well they must be good as Slow Season are signed to
ace label - RidingEasy Records - who are riding the crest of a wave
by releasing some stunning records recently. Slow Season second album
– Mountains – is no different.
Slow
Season is an unknown entity to me as I missed their acclaimed debut
album back in 2012. All I can say is shame on me as their new album
Mountains is a wonderful heavy rock album that I just love. Slow
Season blend Blues Rock, Hard Rock, Psych Rock with a touch of
60s/70s Stadium Rock added for extra class. Slow Season will appeal
to fans of The Who, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, The Doors, Cream and
Led Zepp. If Slow Season were around the 60s/70s, they would be
classed as one of the defining bands of that era. They prove that
their music is timeless and one that has universal appeal.
Opening
track 68 feels it was actually recorded in 1968 though being
played for the very first time today in 2014. The vocals have a
slight Roger Daltrey vibe to them and 'the soulful bluesy guitar
riffs adds an extra touch of class. 68 actually has a dark vibe
running through its veins as it feels the band have lived through the
more negative times that the 'late 60s and early 70s would eventually
bring. Slow Season have carried out their homework on this track as
it's a powerful track that will bring back a lot of memories for
people who lived through those turbulent times.
Second
track - Synanon - opens with bleak vocals and lyrics before the
hard-rock riffs fully consume the atmosphere with its perfect balance
of tenderness and volume. Slow Season add haunting 'quiet post-rock
style vibes before unleashing another powerful blast of crashing
guitars and drums to drown your soul with. The lyrics can be quite
folksy at times but it gives the tune a more emotional feel to show
you that Slow Season bring raw emotion and honesty to their music.
The album feels like a classic rock/hard rock history lesson come to
life as when the album progresses elements of 60s based music gives
way to 70's style Stadium Rock especially on tracks such as Damo's
Days which sees a darker Led Zepp/Black Sabbath vibe coming in and
once again especially with the vocals. I am not complaining as this
dude can really sing.
It's
a trippy and psychedelic walk down memory lane though Slow Season are
still an original and thought provoking band on their own terms. The
instrumental work is superb through out and these guys prove they are
excellent musicians with the albums high amount of epic riffs to
worship to. The album sounds fantastic through out and Slow Season
deserve credit for this as this album has been recorded live straight
to cassette tape just like their idols used to do back in the good
old days. This is how a brilliant Classic Rock/Hard Rock album should
sound. Mountains is a brilliant album that I cannot recommend highly
enough. This is simply unmissable.
Thanks
to Richard Jones at Sheltered PR for sending us a copy to review.
Mountains will be available to buy on CD/Vinyl from RidingEasy Records from 11th November 2014.
Check
The Band From Links below
Written
by Steve Howe
