Top tip number one: if you want to get your album listened to around here, then this opening paragraph on a press release will help: “The band blends genres of psychedelic, blues, and riff heavy, hard rock. Their unique and retro sound is often credited to their deep and passionate influence of the late 60’s and early 70’s underground heavy rock scene. Music for fans of Black Sabbath, Thin Lizzy, Deep Purple, and Clutch.”
So yeah, kudos to Red Stone Souls, who not only do sound like they love those bands, but also are savvy enough not to make it some retro homage.
Right from the opening riff – and you’d best believe there are a lot of riffs here – of “Night’s Watchful Sky” which is a six-minute study in guitar sound, effectively. It is clear that this is a four piece from Detroit that are a little bit special.
Guitarist and Vocalist, Ian Kirwan, Guitarist, Beau Felix take the eye throughout (Kirwan is the singer too and he absolutely roars his way through these seven songs) but Red Stone Souls build themselves on the foundations of Drummer, Travis Erikson, and Bass, Kevin Bernard. The four combine to create something pretty incredible in truth.
“Void Walker” has something of the outer-space about it, something vast, but then many of these psyche tinged bands sound like they are channelling something ethereal. What they don’t – often – do is find the crunch, the thud, if you like of RSS. And when the solo soars here, it is a joyous thing, it really is.
“Truckers” though, might be the pick of the lot. Sounding like Clutch playing some of the garage rock that Detroit is famous for, it is a copper-bottomed piece of brilliance, with heart and soul added. “Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead” on the other hand, is an epic slice of something a little bit unsettling. Eight minutes long, it lurks in the shadows, but goodness me, when it slams it leaves nothing safe!
“Killing Fields” has Olympic sized balls, and takes a wrecking ball to the weak and weedy, This is a masterclass in groove and that’s all there is to it. “27 Moons” is considerably the shortest thing here, something akin to the heavy blues of Orange Goblin or Corrosion Of Conformity, while “Murder Thrills” has something just a little greasy about it – and the guitar work makes good on those Deep Purple comparisons at the start.
This is a gem. Pure and Simple. On “Mother Sky” Red Stone Souls have created seven songs that deserve to see them fly.
Top tip number two: if you want it reviewed, then you’d best make those claims true.
Rating 9/10
