Wednesday 17 August 2016

Bloodnut - Blues From The Red Sons (Album Review)


Release date: September 10th 2016. Label: Self Released. Format: CD/DD

Blues From The Red Sons – Tracklisting

1. Agent Orange (in the Eyes of Thine Enemies)
2. Drop Dead Redhead
3. Vitamin D
4. The Amber Reign Remains
5. Witches Mountain
6. Subtlety in the Street
7. Fire Giant
8. The Red Face Blues
9. The Battle of Bannockburn Part I: Valhalla
10. The Battle of Bannockburn Part II: Send in the Berzerkers
11. The Battle of Bannockburn Part III: Beneath the Kilt

Band Members who recorded this album:

Doug McFarlane: bass Vocals.
Nick Smith: Guitars.
Ty Boniface: Drums.

Review:

Bloodnut are a self-proclaimed Band Of Gingers from New Zealand. Their music combines – Sludge, Doom, Stoner, Punk and a whole lot of violent attitude to match. The guys have a deep love for Kyuss and it shows with their debut album – Blues From The Red Sons. Even look at the album cover for more evidence for this. Don’t worry though; these guys are not a parody band as they create their own great music to standout from the crowd.

Blues From The Red Sons is packed full of heavy sludge/stoner riffs that’s merged with a catchy almost violent pop based melody. These guys pay homage to bands such as Valient Thorr, Red Fang, Beastwars and also Kyuss. Though their sound still has an identity of their own and that’s down to the excellent lyrics the band have written throughout the album. The vocals will take time for some people to get used to. It did for me but after a few songs I was sold.

Opening track- Agent Orange (In The Eyes Of Thine Enemies) – perfectly captures the mood of the entire album with heavy bombastic riffs and angry pitch-perfect vocals. The mood of the album has a volatile and sludge based feel that allows the band to create heavy psych based grooves. Once the vocals arrive you know Bloodnut mean business.

The concept of the album is from what I can tell is how it feels like being ginger and all the lovely experiences the band have personally witnessed or experienced. Bloodnut take a more surreal Red Fang approach to their music. Catchy riffs and great lyrics will go down well with the Sludge/Stoner Metal crowd.

Second track – Drop Dead Redhead – carries on the ginger theme with ease and hard-hitting confidence as the mood even though fun and playful still shows the band laying down heavy sludge/stoner metal riffs. The vocals could have done with more work on this song as they feel slightly disjointed at times.

Third track – Vitamin D – is more of a punk driven song compared to the opening two tracks. It allows Bloodnut to create a faster style of music whilst having fun at the same time. The song runs for about two minutes but it still packs quite a punch.

Fourth track – The Amber Reign Remains – sees Bloodnut finally become comfortable with their musical surroundings and the listener should now be used to the crazy ramblings coming from the band. The riffs become heavier and more exciting as a result.

The rest of the album carries on the same theme as the opening tracks with Bloodnut showing a flair for humour and originality with the lyrics. The music on the other hand is stuff we’ve heard before but Bloodnut still excel in the riffs department as they keep you entertained with some fine epic solos.

The best part of the album has to be the mammoth three part song – The Battle Of Bannockburn Parts One to Three. Bloodnut cover every aspect of the Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal realm. If you’re not intrigued by the lyrics then the riffs will no doubt keep you entertained. Bloodnut show their creative side on part three with Scottish Bagpipes making an appearance and playing an important role. It’s an intriguing sound especailly merged with the heavy stoner/sludge riffs.

Bloodnut’s debut album has an interesting concept and it’s an album that will go down a storm the Sludge/Stoner Metal crowd. My final thoughts is that Blues From The Red Sons is an absolute blast from start to finish. Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Bloodnut for the promo. Blues From The Red Sons will be available to buy on CD/DD from Sept 10th 2016.

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