Review: Swan Valley Heights – The Heavy Seed

It had been a couple of years since I had picked up Swan Valley Height’s first record, and seeing that they had struck a deal with Fuzzorama Records, you knew something special was in the works.

The Heavy Seed kicks off the album and when you see the opening track is over 13 minutes, you know only good things will happen. It starts from a distance and floats in and out with a trippy vibe, conjuring the outdoor feeling under the night sky. The drumming has an organic feel as though it is being played out by hand and the bassline roles in and out ala Yawning Man. Three minutes in the fuzz laden guitars really open up as the songs main riff picks you up and kicks you right out there. The big rolling sound of the song has that European heavy psych feel to it and how it is written. As it moves on, you witness some big crisp pedal action as the odd solo dives in and we hit Elder territory, not in a clone like way but in the way the song structure speeds up then slows down before pulling in some huge post metal riffs. It’s quite a journey that ends up finishing with big fuzzy stoner rock riffs as it closes.

Vaporizer Woman comes in more melodic with an uplifting feel to it. The percussion drives everything along with some more intricate near acoustic guitar work before the fuzz pedal kicks in with a monster of a riff. Some vocals again make me think of Sungrazer whilst the song build and builds to lots of cymbals and some killer guitar work that take you “out there” and beyond.

Take a Swim in God’s Washing Machine is a more metallic complex 8 minutes. It starts of space like and trippy, like your drifting through the clouds and towards the night sky. The cymbals role in and out alongside some intricate drum work and a rolling bassline. From an almost dreamlike state with the drifting vocals, the song bursts out to some big fuzzy riffs that are meant to be played live and loud. I like the way it switched back and forth with the intensity before they pull out a grungy riff from nowhere, turn the vocals a little more haunting, then off they stomp.

My First Knife Fight is three minutes of riff after riff. Think The Machine with the fuzz pedal turned up. Its big, abrasive, the bassline thunders throughout, the cymbals keep crashing and like I said, its riff after riff.

Finishing off with the 10+ minute epic Teeth & Waves, I’m back off into a psychedelic dreamland amongst the clouds for the first few minutes prior to the guitars kicking in with that emotive soaring guitar style that takes you on an atmospheric rollercoaster of a ride. It feels like a really good song that has been “jammed out” even more live as the band are “feeling it” as the song develops and takes on a life of its own.

Overall, this is a really good record. The band have taken their time in developing their sound and the song writing ability shines through. Germany (and Europe) has produced a lot of good heavy psych and stoner bands over the last few years and Swan Valley Heights are right up there with the best. My only disappointment is that I didn’t get to witness their debut UK show supporting Truckfighters last month, but hopefully they’ll be back soon.

Another good looking package put together by Fuzzorama Records with some cool colored vinyl editions.

Website - Bandcamp - Fuzzorama Records 

Review: All Them Witches – 1x1

A new singe from All Them Witches wasn’t on anyone’s radar, but as its Halloween, anything can happen, and it certainly does here. 1x1 is the heaviest five minutes the Nashville three-piece have put out in some time.

A repetitive riff twists and turns into something darker before everything explodes into life with the haunting vocal harmonies of Charles Michael Parks Jr’s vocals rooted deeply within. The sound is a heavy groove with a raw fuzzy edge that sounds huge. After seeing them play The Roundhouse in London last year, the three-piece managed to create something that was delicate one minute but was huge the next and manage to fill the huge venue perfectly. Here, 1x1 feels like this could do exactly that. The next five minutes is pure musical magic. The vocals that are also harmonised with guitarist Ben McLeod and drummer Robby Staebler creating melodies that are almost a mantra chant in parts. It’s a dark song and if you look up the lyrics, there is definitely something wicked and sinister about them.

As far as I know there is no album imminent and this song is something of a teaser for their European support run with Ghost, which I am sure they will gain a few new fans from.

All Them Witches like to change, evolve and never sound familiar for very long, which is part of their magic. You know what to do next.

Bandcamp