stoner rock / hard rock
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Let's once again kick off with something educational. A hedonist is a person who believes that the pursuit of pleasure is the most important thing in life; a pleasure-seeker so to speak. I am one, most of my close friends are too. I'm quite sure the good people at Consouling Sounds are too and finally, the three people who stomped this album in our faces certainly are. If hanging around in smoked-out venues, smelling of beer and sweat, is your kind of pleasure, you are a hedonist too.
Hedonist started in the Belgian city of Genk 2010, after Roel Paulussen (Sardonis, Solenoid, Barabbas) and Frederik "Cozy" Cosemans (Serpentcult, Hemelbestormer, Death Penalty) decided to jam together. Soon after, they invited Frank "Frenz" Homolka (Solenoid, The Killbots) to take care of the bass and vocals and before they knew it, there was a new star in the stoner firmament. A first split was released, one with Your Highness and, obviously, the band got picked up by Consouling Sounds.
In short, 'The Collapse' is a massive piece of work, heavy, groovy and relentless, as if Monster Magnet and Kuyss decided to interpret Motorhead songs. Opener 'The Urge' perfectly sets the tone, graciously followed by the highly impressive title track 'The Collapse'. Both tracks seem to function as battering rams, pounding on your skull, beating you senseless and leaving you screaming for more.
Remember that Monty Python scene where a convict is chased by naked girls and eventually falls from a cliff? Well, this album feels a bit similar. In the end it will leave you in a puddle of blood but you know you had the time of your life, headbanging to raging monsters like 'Back Lungs' or 'I Hedonist'. You'll still want more, you can't get enough of the beating. In fact, Hedonist should use a slowed down version of that scene for a video.
But that's not all. Don't forget that Roel is a brilliant guitar player who can handle a lot of different things. On 'Beecher', the trio takes on a psychedelic approach, slower, jazzier and totally reeking of vintage hard rock. This song might be one of my favorites on this album, an absolute riff-worshiper's orgasm, so to speak. Or how about the fierce stoner punk songs 'Back To Arkham' and 'The Number Eight Will Kill You? Oh man, I can already see massive mosh pits forming on these.
You'll have to discover the other songs yourself because I can't get that Monty Python scene out of my head now, dammit. All I can say to end this review, is this: fucking buy it already. If you're into anything from High On Fire to Karma To Burn you have no right to neglect this gem. Buy the album, go to their shows, support your scene before this wretched society completely collapses. This certainly is the perfect soundtrack for the apocalypse...
Serge
Hedonist started in the Belgian city of Genk 2010, after Roel Paulussen (Sardonis, Solenoid, Barabbas) and Frederik "Cozy" Cosemans (Serpentcult, Hemelbestormer, Death Penalty) decided to jam together. Soon after, they invited Frank "Frenz" Homolka (Solenoid, The Killbots) to take care of the bass and vocals and before they knew it, there was a new star in the stoner firmament. A first split was released, one with Your Highness and, obviously, the band got picked up by Consouling Sounds.
In short, 'The Collapse' is a massive piece of work, heavy, groovy and relentless, as if Monster Magnet and Kuyss decided to interpret Motorhead songs. Opener 'The Urge' perfectly sets the tone, graciously followed by the highly impressive title track 'The Collapse'. Both tracks seem to function as battering rams, pounding on your skull, beating you senseless and leaving you screaming for more.
Remember that Monty Python scene where a convict is chased by naked girls and eventually falls from a cliff? Well, this album feels a bit similar. In the end it will leave you in a puddle of blood but you know you had the time of your life, headbanging to raging monsters like 'Back Lungs' or 'I Hedonist'. You'll still want more, you can't get enough of the beating. In fact, Hedonist should use a slowed down version of that scene for a video.
But that's not all. Don't forget that Roel is a brilliant guitar player who can handle a lot of different things. On 'Beecher', the trio takes on a psychedelic approach, slower, jazzier and totally reeking of vintage hard rock. This song might be one of my favorites on this album, an absolute riff-worshiper's orgasm, so to speak. Or how about the fierce stoner punk songs 'Back To Arkham' and 'The Number Eight Will Kill You? Oh man, I can already see massive mosh pits forming on these.
You'll have to discover the other songs yourself because I can't get that Monty Python scene out of my head now, dammit. All I can say to end this review, is this: fucking buy it already. If you're into anything from High On Fire to Karma To Burn you have no right to neglect this gem. Buy the album, go to their shows, support your scene before this wretched society completely collapses. This certainly is the perfect soundtrack for the apocalypse...
Serge