Hailing from Somerset, UK Sergeant Thunderhoof have graced us with two full length LPs and a Live LP since their 2014 debut album, Zigurat. These guys have taken Psych-Metal to the next level, incorporating Doom and Stoner Metal along the way.
Hitting their stride with sophomore release, Ride of the Hoof in 2015, Sergeant Thunderhoof just keep getting better with each release. Enter Terra Solus, the band's third studio album... and it looks like we've got another slab of Iommic riffs, soaring vocals and ripping solos to look forward to.
Honing their craft with each new album seems to be second nature for vocalist Dan Flitcroft and company. Terra Solus is no different in this regard and would fit nicely in any record collection right next to any Dio-era Sabbath records (as a fan of Dio, I mean this in a good way!).
Starting off with lead single, Another Plane you already get a pretty good idea of what's in store: A heaping mountain of sick riffs, left and right. With lyrics about a robot woman leading you on a path to another dimension (I think), this song builds and builds for 8+ minutes of hard rocking fury.
Picking up the pace a bit, we get Stellar Gate Drive. What can I say about this track other than it totally fucking rips. With a huge catchy chorus, lyrics about space travel, and one of the heaviest bridge sections on the album - this song will get tons of repeat plays.
Next up is The Tree and The Serpent, a mellow song that feels like a nod to Queens of the Stone Age. More than anything else, this track showcases Mr. Flitcroft's vocal abilities, proving that unlike a lot of other metal vocalists, this dude can sing. The melodies on this song are remarkable to say the least!
B Oscillation, the fourth track on the album is probably one of my favorite instrumentals that I've heard in a loooooong time. Weaving back and forth between thick riffs and soaring leads, this song is a perfect representation of what these guys are capable of. My only "complaint" about this track is that at 7 minutes, I wish it was a bit longer!
At this point in the album, we get Diesel Breath. Without a doubt, this is the type of song you want to blast while driving down a back road with your windows down. With lyrics about life on the road and blazing riffs galore, mark this down as another instant classic for The Hoof.
Up next we get Priestess of Misery and with it, a fresh take on that old school stoner groove. Heavy riffs and pounding drums abound on this opus. A stellar pre-chorus/chorus combo is what really shines on this track. Mr. Mark Sayer also showcases his chops with an epic guitar solo that I would absolutely love to see live.
Half a Man mellows things out for the album with a single guitar/vocal combo that would be a perfect song to listen to when you just kind of feel like the world is out to get you and nothing you do is ever good enough. Once again, the vocals are top notch on this track, dripping with emotion.
Ending the album on a high note comes Om Shaantih. Mantra style vocals are sparsely placed throughout this mostly instrumental track. If you're into mediation, I would definitely recommend this song as the soundtrack to your next session. Have you ever astral projected before? You will within minutes of getting lost in this tune.
I'd like to thank the band for providing me with the promo copy to jam and review. Terra Solus will be released on vinyl, compact disc, limited edition cassette and digital download on May 12, 2018. You can pre-order it through their bandcamp and also jam out to the first track, Another Plane while you're at it!
-Rybo
No comments:
Post a Comment