It would be easy to dismiss Valient Thorr as a kitsch band. They profess to be from Venus, 4/5 of the members have the last name of ‘Thorr’. They have cultivated the wild look, have a propensity for cheesy outfits, goofily mugging for the cameras and their followers are called ‘Thorriors’. It would also be easy to tag Valiant Thorr as another stoner rock band. However, neither assessment would be fair. Their latest release, ‘Our Own Masters’, shows that there is a good deal of quality under all that hair and double-denim, and while they do get their stoner grind on they also have an aggressive, punky edge that puts them somewhere between Kyuss, Fireball Ministry and Maylene And The Sons of Disaster, with a dash old school punk and a pinch of 70s cock rock. It’s an interesting blend that keeps listeners both engaged and on their toes.
The openers, ‘Immaculate Consumption’ charges out the gate with a fuzzed-out guitar bravado. The band, based out of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, inherits its Southern-fried swagger honestly but is intentionally too raw to hit the groove-metal mark, though they do come close on the track ‘Torn Apart’ which has swingin’ 80’s feel, and ‘Insatiable’. ‘Manipulation’ and the happy punk of ‘No Strings Attached’ keep your head bobbing. They maintain their sense of purpose without losing their sense of humor as shown on the track ‘Life Hands You Demons’ and ‘Ceberus’. They can go from that to barn-burners like ‘Good News Bad News’, ‘Master Collider’ and ‘Crowdpleaser’ and then to the sweet guitar riffing and punk drive of ‘Nervous Energy’. The closer ‘Call Off the Dogs’ leans a bit too far into Queens Of The Stone Age‘s ‘No One Knows’ with Clutch-y vocals, but the Thin Lizzy-style twin guitar lead segments and a very well-done tempo shift for a middle break more than make up for it.
Vocalist Valient himself when actually singing, has a vocal sound that is reminiscent of Ozzy and Brent Hinds without the ‘whine’ factor. Some may not find that appealing, but it really works with the material, always cutting through whatever sounds effects or guitar riffing are going on behind him (and there is usually plenty). He has a cool growly yell as well. Guitarists Eiden Thorr and Sadat Thorr lay down some tasty riffs, and rhythm section Dr. Professor Nitewolf Strangees and Lucian Thorr put down a solid foundation. Although there are guitars everywhere, the overall production, courtesy of Harvey Milk drummer Kyle Spence, comes across as no fuss and straight-forward.
This is a fun record; you have to be one helluva of a crankypants to not crack a smile and drive a little faster as you listen to this record. If you like stoner rock but wish that sometimes had more of a caffeinated sugar rush, then you will love this. Live, they are supposed to be great, having opened for such acts as Motorhead and Mastodon. Since they tour extensively and will for this release, I would say check them out. I will be!
8.5/10
Lynn Jordan