Hello, friends today on the block we have the new cut from High Reeper, Renewed By Death (Heavy Psych Sounds). After three years the stoner metal group is back with some new tunes. This new cut is loaded with killer riffs from top to bottom. True to form the guitars come in with an intro calling to past influences to deliver a cool icebreaker for this album. The band also does a good job of keeping the energy up throughout, as well. There is a good flow from song to song. It feels like an album, not just a playlist. I think there are still some of us out there that enjoy the experience of an album, from beginning to end, and what the group/artist is saying as a whole.
This album is a riff-driven journey. The guitars are ever present, delivering everything from power riffage to choppy chunky sections, meandering runs, and some killer harmonies, all blended into a neat little package. The solos are killer additions to the songs, though nothing overly flashy or annoying. Pat Daly and Shane Trimble have always done a good job of not letting the guitars step on toes, everything feels as though it is in its place. Their ability to stay true to who they are while also letting some of their own guitar heroes and their influence shine through makes this new cut especially enjoyable.
Zach Thomas’ vocals not only soar, but also deliver something that comes across with a really haunting quality which adds to the overall spooky feel of the album. The lyrics are smart and not just words put to melody without any real meaning, they convey a message and contribute to the overall story. I want to revisit the spooky quality this album presents. It will definitely make for an awesome fall release keeping with the feel of the season. I wonder if this was done with purpose.
The rhythm section is solid as a rock. You know a good backline by how much they do not draw attention to themselves. They punch in, do their job, and do it quite well. An older gentleman once used the analogy that a good rhythm section is like the transmission in a car, the engine and exhaust are making all the noise, but you know it’s the transmission in there almost unnoticed making things happen. I believe this works here, Jimmy Althouse and Justin Di Pinto do an awesome job keeping everything tied together.
All in all, this is an awesome entry from the dudes in High Reeper. While some parts that feel a bit slow at times, that maybe on purpose. We often get lost in the “faster is better” thing. I could totally see the guys in the studio being like “no ….slower, keep it slow,” just to keep that overall feel.
Buy the album here:
https://highreeper.bandcamp.com/album/renewed-by-death
8 / 10
TORBJORN SOLGARD