Wheelfall - Interzone - review
Wheelfall - Interzone - review
Tracklist
01. (Prelude)02. Howling
03. Holy Sky
04. The Parasite Ravages
05. It Comes From The Mist
06. Interzone
A review by
Auntie Sahar December 02, 2012
Aside from the sci fi themes, the other factor that makes Interzone so pleasant a listen is its catchiness. There are enough memorable grooves and "bouncy" riffs here to easily be on par with Sleep's Holy Mountain or Blues For The Red Sun, and that is by no means an exaggeration (the opening one on "Howling," in particular, has had me humming it ever since I've heard it). The formula's quite simple: heavy, blues-based melodies in the vein of classic Sleep, Kyuss, and Black Sabbath, and its delivery packs a punch. But wait! There's one more twist that makes both Wheelfall and this album a big eyebrow-raiser. The vocal delivery is very harsh, and at times the vocalist actually reminded me of Gojira's Joe Duplaintier (listen to "The Parasite Ravages," especially, and you'll see what I mean)! This can seem odd at times, but if one really considers it, it goes hand and hand with the band's sci-fi, somewhat dystopian themes. To emphasize them, Wheelfall would (at least in theory) need to go for a bit of a "tortured" sound with their vocals, and the band does just that excellently.
The only issue I have with Interzone is that I, personally, feel that the composition isn't as advanced as it could have been, and being a musician myself, I felt as though the band throwing in some synthesizers and/or a more "atmospheric" guitar tone really could've helped to embellish the whole sci-fi vibe even more, but perhaps that simply wasn't the approach that Wheelfall were going for, so I can't complain. Anywho, taken for what it is, Interzone is a well-crafted delivery from a young and relatively obscure band. Whether it's the "trippy" ambience of the album's intro, the hook of the riffs, or the Yob-like monster of a title track that one can get completely lost in, Interzone's package is put together quite nicely, and I'd be very surprised if stoner metal fans don't enjoy this one. Is this the debut album of 2012? Quite possibly so, or at least it is for stoner metal. Crank it high, my metal brethren.
Listen at Bandcamp.
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 8 |
| Songwriting: | 8 |
| Originality: | 9 |
| Production: | 8 |
Written by Auntie Sahar | December 02, 2012
Comments
Comments:
11
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Posts: 5989 Written by Evil Chip on 02.12.2012 at 23:22 Not quite, but certainly a good cut of stoner metal that's pretty unique with this respect of classic sci-fi/psychedelic culture, like I said in the review. It really makes me wish I had the lyrics in front of me to see if they relate at all to the book... I haven't been able to find them anywhere 
---- I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go. ~ II. VII
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Posts: 505 Written by Auntie Sahar on 02.12.2012 at 23:25 Been there too...  The only way is buying it or trying to understand (and probably failing at it).
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Posts: 5989 Written by Merchant of Doom on 03.12.2012 at 00:45 It's all good, and no worries about the long argument on the Evoken review. I actually have to thank you now for helping to make that the the most-commented thing on the site now
---- I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go. ~ II. VII
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Posts: 702 Written by Auntie Sahar on 03.12.2012 at 05:00 Happy to help...  And I liked the way you conducted yourself, unlike other members of the staff. I appreciate it.
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Posts: 4603
Congrats on the front page space! I'm the person to go to for cookies and milk and kudos. The best debut cat will indeed be tight.
---- 7.0 means the album is good
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Posts: 4774
Good man. I'm sold. Need to check these guys out
---- loves 小巫
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| !J.O.O.E.!
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Posts: 278
Definately worth checking out, just finished my first listen of it on Bandcamp (link here btw). Great debut, and add my name to those admiring that awesome album cover.
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Posts: 5989 Written by Druss on 03.12.2012 at 19:43 I know, it looks like something out of the illustrations for the Fear And Loathing And Las Vegas book. These guys are definitely a band to keep an eye on, for sure.
---- I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go. ~ II. VII
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