Date Released: 25/08/2017
Label: Tee Pee Records
Dishing out psyched-out blast offs and
danceable tunes all complemented by the vintage-sounding production and plenty
of organ in-between, Ruby The Hatchet adds a further twist to their already
suspensive sound. “Planetary Space Child” comes off sounding like a spaced out
version of Uncle Acid and cements their place at the very top tier of heavy
psych.
2).
Killer
3).
Pagan Ritual
4).
The Fool
5).
Symphony of the Night
6).
Gemini
7).
Lightning Comes Again
The Review:
With
an intro that would not be amiss on a Floyd album, “Planetary Space Child” opens with the dramatic title track and goes
straight for the grandiose sweeps. With riffs alluding to the barren vastness
depicted on the cover, along the uneasy undertones, the epic artwork of Adam Burke is another common trait to
be found with fellow dread-mongerers Occultation. Whereas said group are perhaps slightly spookier, Ruby
bring a handful more of melody. Like the opening notes of ’Pagan Ritual’ that come off equally as
stirring as they are ominous, another turn is waiting around the corner. The
shrouded riffs build up and crank the anticipation until a funky break-down,
maintaining the trepidation and not letting you get too comfortable, the only solid
thing being the bass-lines that follow the track through to its finish.
While
these change-ups are familiar from prior albums, the additional organ progressions unabashedly harken
back to rock’s golden era and really complement the album concept. That stands
especially true for ’Symphony of the
Night’, undoubtedly one of the stronger songs the band has put to tape yet.
It opens with pensive plucks and picks the pace up near the middle and as the
gloominess is equally cranked up a notch, the well-placed keys constantly adorn
the unrelenting gradations.
Despite
the material’s emotional density, the band hasn’t forgone their penchant for
some infectious feel-good tunes. Second track ’Killer’ reminds us they’re still capable of more than a bit of
moog-tinged tomfoolery, likewise on the equally fast-paced midpoint that is “Gemini”. Whereas the former is a fairly
straight-forward and fun band jam (awfully fitting when they presented it at
Roadburn’s Cul de Sac), the latter never quite loosens its intense grip and
brings the full-sounding guitars and psychedelic leads further up front, with
the relentless drumming of Mike Parise
keeping it equally energetic and even-paced throughout. By the end they go
near-prog with the keys straddled throughout amidst the influx of leads tearing
straight into your headspace.
As
is true for Jillian Taylor’s howls
and moans that are at times wistful and bold on others, the created sound truly
envelopes her voice well, especially so on the initially shuddersome “The
Fool“ and the epic closer. The latter really runs the gamut on her whole
range, beginning languid and solemn in near-ballad-form, almost timid by Ruby’s
standards, but opening up near the end, an approach the band has proven to work
for them time and again. It’s no straight-forward doom here but all splendidly
woven in, making the pay-off that much more worth it. The culminating build-up
and shake-down really allows the organ to shine amidst the oscillation of
guitars and comes off dangerous, duly paying reference to the song-title.
Dishing
out psyched-out blast offs and danceable tunes all complemented by the vintage-sounding production and plenty of
organ in-between, Ruby The Hatchet adds a further twist to their
already suspensive sound. “Planetary
Space Child” comes off sounding like a spaced out version of Uncle Acid
and cements their place at the very top tier of heavy psych.
“Planetary Space Child” is available here
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