Ripple Music will release the
fourth chapter of their popular Turned to
Stone split albums on April 15. This
series has been stellar and a great way to discover new bands. My favorite thus
far was Chapter 2: Masamune &
Muramasa featuring Howling Giant and Sergeant Thunderhoof. Well, let me
just say that volume 4 has now dethroned it. Titled Higher Selves, it shines the spotlight on two bands I’d never heard
of, both hailing from Barcelona, Spain and playing an outstanding blend of
classic rock for the modern crowd. The first side of the record introduces
Saturna, and Side 2 features Electric Monolith. And man, what an album this is!
Channeling the spirit of ‘70s rock
‘n’ roll, Saturna delivers riffage galore, southern-inspired grooves with rich
and textured vocals. The opener, “Keep Me Trying”, is a terrific showcase of
what this band is all about and sets the tone for both sides of the split. The
bar is already high, but “Following the Sun” continues to impress; a beautiful,
soulful number with acoustic guitars that really add a special shine to the
song. “Drowning” was the single that I first heard and infinitely piqued my
curiosity. A fantastic song with tremendous vocals where the band flows like crystal-clear
water playing together. Maybe my favorite track of the entire record. “Don’t
Run” has a lovely piano intro and is reminiscent of vintage Bob Seger at times.
Gentle and dreamy guitars drive this one home and it’s over far too soon.
On to Side B with Electric
Monolith. Vocals are higher-pitched, the music is more psychedelic but wears its
classic rock roots on its sleeve. “By My Side” is a blues-tinted rock song with
echoes of Stevie Ray Vaughan on guitar and Black Sabbath vibes. It’s followed by
“I Hope You Feel Better”, a short and exquisite instrumental evoking a sad and
lonely night. “Hold Me Again” picks up the pace, a chorus-heavy song with
duelling guitars and a persistent riff. “So Lonely Drying” draws its inspiration
from Sabbath’s “Planet Caravan”, a trippy percussion-driven tune. The curtain
comes down with “Nightmares”, the single that was released and longest track on
the album that you won’t get tired of listening to. It closes the split with a
nice bow: a perfect song in every aspect, a synonym of the term “classic rock”,
and my fave on this side of the record.
What an incredible pairing this
is! I’ve become an instant fan of both bands and cannot wait to hear
full-length albums from each of them. Ripple Music is spoiling us classic rock enthusiasts
these days, first with Stone Axe’s Stay
of Execution and now along the same vein with Turned to Stone: Higher Selves.
This latest chapter drops on April 15 and you should immediately pre-order your
copy! Whether you’re into classic rock, heavy rock, psychedelic rock, or just
love retro rock, this one has it all. Saturna and Electric Monolith will make a
big splash in 2022, mark my words. Both bands have a brilliant musical future
ahead of them. Long live Rock ‘n’ Roll!
Ripple Music’s Bandcamp page for Turned to Stone - Higher Selves: https://ripplemusic.bandcamp.com/album/turned-to-stone-chapter-4-higher-selves
No comments:
Post a Comment