The Colorado High Mountain heavy rockers make a welcome
return with their second record “Below the Deep”. Knowing their original links
to Desert Rock royalty and how good their debut album “Blood Moon” was,
spending the last 3 years crafting these songs was destined to make something
special.
"Black Cloud” opens the album and is proper “High Mountain
Rock n Roll”. Drum roll then straight into a thick heavy riff that drives the
song, giving you that feeling of a packed house bar-room gig. Dave Angstom's vocals have a dark feel to them, sounding low in the mix which works really
well. Further on in the track, bassist Shannon Fahnestock also contributes to
lead vocals, and between them there’s a harmony that works really well. The
song closes with a full on, guitar in the air solo.
The title track “Below the Deep” keeps the riff driven rock
right on track. Within the vocal harmonies this time there’s a dark Mark
Lanegan vocal style in the mix. Again, a powerful mix topped with a full
straight to the point solo and the use of the vocals and harmonies really
elevates the song. Fans of Hermano will really dig this one.
“Along the Road” has a lot more of a darker groove to it,
held perfectly at a slower pace by Justin Baier’s drum beats. Vocally it has
that low end deep voice to it, adding to the Corrosion of Conformity feel to
the song. The guitars of David Burke and Angstrom overlap each other, leaving
time for some ripping guitar solos.
The Blue’s are all over “Man’s Worth Killin”, showing a
slower southern groove mixed with some of the best vocal harmonies on the
album. The chorus is a proper head nodder.
“Sometimes We Get It Right” is a mid-tempo rocker that could
be out the Hermano playbook, with the vocals having a John Garcia feel to them.
“The Dying Conglomerate” has the late 90’s hard desert rock feel to it.
“Garden of the Gods” feels like a song that the band have
taken time to make it just right. Its slow and emotive, sitting somewhere
between Soundgarden and Audioslave and Dave is definitely channelling some
inner Chris Cornell. There’s a catchy as hell baseline that makes you feel as
though you are lost in the desert in the dark, completed with some awesome duel
guitar work.
Followed by another rocker “Hallelujah”, that brings in some
organ to compliment the Southern Blues Rock vibe. It’s a 4 minute stomper that
could quite easily be a lead single. The male/female vocal harmonies work a
treat, overlaid with a husky growl ala Mark Lanegan, and the guitar solo slowly
lifts you up there, then boom, a classic in the making.
“Mammoth Cave” follows a lead sounding like very early
Queens of the Stone Age, then a real foot tapper of a chorus that will have
everyone singing along. “Wait for It” more than drives the message home, whilst
the final track “Home” walks a dark brooding path, not before one final blast
of twin guitar leads.
I was a big fan of the previous LP “Blood Moon” and even
after only a few listens, I can guarantee “Below the Deep” is going to blow you
away. The production is perfect for what they are doing and every instrument
they use is comes across with some much power with a hint of fuzz behind the
songs.
"Below the Deep" is already available in the USA and comes out in Europe on August 16th (with super special packaging). It can be purchased from:
USA LP - USA CD - USA Download - Euro LP & CD - Euro (Green Vinyl) LP
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