Album Type:Album
Date Released:
April 7th
2014
Label:
Chemikal Underground Records
Ancient
Astronauts - track listing:
1. LV-42666
2. Luftwizard
3. Ancient
Astronauts
4. Star Kings
5. Tokyo
6. Gift Giver
7. 100 Years A Day
8. Hollow Hill
Bio:
Fast
as fuck, fleein' all the time, Running through the forest, traveling
through time.
The
Band Members
Andy
McGlone - riffs and solos
Pete
Flett - drums and gurns
Allan
Stewart - Bass and cockney rhyming slang
Review:
Scottish Stoner Rockers
– Holy Mountain – are back with their eagerly awaited debut album
– Ancient Astronauts. Following 2 years after their mini debut
album – Earth Measures back in 2012, we now see this hard-rocking
power-trio leaving their earthly bodies behind and venture far out
into the cosmos. As Holy Mountain have turned into a Psychedelic
Riff-Slaying Space Rockers.
Well obviously, the
album title gives it away. I mean, come on – Ancient Astronauts.
That is quite a big clue on where this album is heading. Psychedelic
Space/Stoner Riffs that will have you hooked from the very first
riff.
Opening track –
LV-42666 – is a hard-rocking track that is very big on ideas and
riffs in equal measure. Obviously, the title of the song will be a
sly wink to the science fiction fans amongst you all mixed with the
sign of the devil as well.. This is great opening track to open the
album with. Spacey Stoner Rock riffs played at a frantic pace, which
will have you hooked from the start.
2nd track –
Luftwizard – is where the band shows their true colours by
venturing into gigantic Space Rock territory, which adds huge layers
of riffs with ambient based noises and vocals playing in the
background. It may sound like one gigantic chaotic mess but Holy
Mountain is made of sterner stuff and it shows how talented this band
actually is. It is a noise rock-space rock-stoner rock extravaganza
as Holy Mountain leave no stoner or meteorite unturned for your
listening pleasure. You ever wonder what an – sounds like in space.
Well this is about as close you will probably get to that feeling.
This is an intense blast of different noises and sounds that will
have you hooked for days.
You can tell this is a
different band from their last release – Earth Measures. As Holy
Mountain have added more sonic experimentation to their music. It’s
a beautiful surreal journey come to life that becomes stranger with
each passing moment and I mean that as a compliment as it shows Holy
Mountain are a band with a unique vision of their own.
3rd track – Ancient
Astronauts – is where the band bring the heaviness to the party
with blistering fast paced riffs that come out of nowhere to rock
your entire galaxy. Holy Mountain infuse Stoner Rock riffage with
out-of-this world Space Rock and it is a joy to listen to as it turns
into an intergalactic jamming session.
That vibe is carried
onto the next track – Star King – which is potentially one of the
albums standout tracks as Holy Mountain have created a more weirder
atmosphere compared to earlier tracks. Hazy sentinel like vocals give
this track a SLEEP and OM like quality with pulsating
Stoner/Space/Psych riffage to match. My advice is to play this track
as loud as you can and chill out with the spacey riffs as this track
will take you to the further reaches of space without leaving the
comfort of your own home.
As you can tell,
Ancient Astronauts is going to appeal to all fans of Psychedelic
Stoner Rock. Holy Mountain have delivered a stunning album that will
surely see them win acclaim as one of Scotland’s best upcoming
Stoner Rock bands that you have to check out.
If you need another
reason to buy this album then I will say to check out the epic last
track – Hollow Hill – that is worth it for the purchase of the
album alone. As it feels like a spiritual successor to Sleep’s
classic album – Dopesmoker. It carries the same vibe as that
legendary album. It’s a Space Opera come to life as when the band
let loose with some heavy riffs it feels like a gigantic explosion in
space signalling the end of all civilisation everywhere.
Ancient Astronauts is
such a superb album that I cannot recommend highly enough. The album
is expertly played and produced by all involved, as it is such a
massive sounding album that you will need many listens to get the
full effect of this bands epic sound.
Brilliant. End Of.
Thanks to Holy Mountain
and Chemikal Underground Records for sending us a promo to review.
Ancient Astronauts will be available to buy from April 7th 2014 on
CD/DD/Vinyl.
Check The Band From
Links Below
Written by Steve Howe
