VARIOUS ARTISTS
"High
Volume: The Stoner Rock Collection" (High Times Records)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
Leave it to the folks over at High Times magazine to come up with not only a great primer for those unfamiliar with stoner rock but an overall terrific collection of tunes that will have your stereo speakers begging for a drink of water after belting out all that dry, fuzzy guitar sound. Not familiar with the stoner sound? Imagine Black Sabbath meets Cheech & Chong and you get a general idea.
There's not much more I can say about this CD but that it's a great play. If you're a fan of stoner rock (and, really, how can you not be with all the great stoner rock out there right now) you'll probably like every track. If you're not a stoner rock fan, this CD is a great starting place. Some of the more well-known stoner artists are represented here (such as Corrosion of Conformity, Clutch, The Hidden Hand and High on Fire) and there are some not-so-well known bands, too, who deserve your attention ( Gas Giant, Bad Wizard, Suplecs and others).
So roll up a fat one, sit back, and blast the walls out with this 14-track slab of steamroller rock'n'roll. You may not remember any of it in the morning, but that'll be your own fault, not the fault of this heavy CD.
Tracklisting:
1. Gas Giant, "Too Stoned"
2. Bad Wizard, "So Bad"
3. Clutch, "Willie Nelson”
4. Nebula, "The Void"
5. The Hidden Hand, "Falconstone"
6. Unida, "Left Us To Mold"
7. Orange Goblin, "No Law"
8. Suplecs, "Cities of The Dead"
9. High On Fire, "To Cross The Bridge"
10. Sea Of Green, "High For The Ride"
11. The Formula, "Hello To Oblivion"
12. Corrosion Of Conformity, "It Is That Way"
13. The Mystick Krewe Of Clearlight, "Ride Out"
14. Bottom, "NADAsoul"
For more information, check out http://www.hightimesrecords.net/highvolume.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 2004 by R. Scott Bolton. All rights
reserved.
Revised: 01 Apr 2024 10:34:42 -0500.
