Album
Type: Full Length
Date
Released: July 19th
2015
Label:
RidingEasy
Records
While
Sleeping Stay Awake - Track Listing:
1.Osiris
Slain
2.Ad
Astra
3.An
Evil Unseen 03:41
4.Eye
In The Sky
5.Philospher's
Stone
6.Alchemist
Part I
7.Alchemist
Part II
8.While
Sleeping Stay Awake
9.The
Reaper Is Waiting For You
Bio
Throughout
their reign in the Pacific Northwest music scene, Sons of Huns have
become widely known for their ability to turn every live show into a
sci-fi, psychedelic-rock party and livening the spirit of every crowd
with their jokes and unforgiving volume.
BandMembers
Pete
Hughes: guitar/vox
Ryan
Northrop: drums
Aaron
Powell: bass/vox
Review:
This
is my first encounter with Sons of Huns but it seems they won the
admiration of many stoner rock aficionados with their debut
“Banishment Ritual” back in 2013. After a spin of “While
Sleeping Stay Awake” it’s easy to see why.
The
Portland trio blend oddball retro doom, driving stoner rock, grimy
thrash and a dash of NWOBHM to create a heady, intoxicating brew.
Imagine combining the best elements of Saviours, Danava and Fu Manchu
for maximum hard-rocking effect. The musical heaviness is equalled by
the lyrics, covering weighty issues of life and mortality in response
to singer and guitarist Pete Hughes experience of chronic pain after
contracting Lyme Disease 16 years ago. This is no hollow, good-time,
party record, there’s real soul behind the riffs here.
“Osiris
Slain” kicks off proceeding in high gear and demonstrates all that
is great about the Sons in five minutes; sweet riffs, awesome
song-writing and incredible instrumental sections. It’s these
instrumental sections where the band really shines, jamming hard yet
still crafting indelible melodies like the best of 70s classic rock
mixed with “Master of Puppets”-era Metallica.
Sons
of Huns seem to have some friends in high places too, roping in doom
legend Wino and the Melvins’ Dale Crover for guest appearances on
the record. Wino lends his vocals to “An Evil Unseen”, an urgent,
doomy ballad that provides the album’s highlight. Pete Hughes’
vocals are powerful throughout the album but the addition of Wino’s
weathered croon really takes things up a level. Dale Crover does what
he does best on “Philosopher’s Stone”, adding a second layer of
drums which reach a crescendo as the track powers off into the
distance at its conclusion. With guests of this calibre, it wouldn’t
surprise me if the trumpet during the bombastic conclusion of
rollicking closer “The Reaper Is Waiting for You” was provided by
a resurrected Miles Davis.
There
are a lot of generic, retro doom bands around nowadays following the
rise of Uncle Acid and the like. Sons of Huns set themselves apart
from the competition by taking influences from the past but making
their music sound current and vital instead of a lifeless recreation.
“While Sleeping Stay Awake” should fully satisfy the band’s
current fanbase and swell their ranks further in 2015.
Words
by Charlie Butler
Thanks
to Dave at US/THEM PR Group for sending ourselves the promo to
review. While
Sleeping Stay Awake is released on July 21st
2015 on CD/DD/Vinyl through RidingEasyRecords.
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