Sunday, April 30, 2017

Lotek Cruiser "Spirit Vine" - Review


                Today we are sticking close to home and giving you the honest lowdown of “Spirit Vine” by Lotek Cruiser, a Kitchener, Ontario based band that writes, as it was introduced to me, “Doom and Sludge” filled songs. This has the chance to be something new which few bands manage with this style, or something old/boring which a lot of bands manage with this style.

                “Blackheart” kicks off the album with the perfect level of Groove and Sludge blend, taking a page from the books of Crowbar and early MastodonSpirit Vine” kicks off on an absolute high point. The first half of the song its mid tempo headbanging destruction, the main riff is absolutely killer and gives the album attitude while the vocals add a level of much needed grittiness. This riff will continue after a small section where the riffs and everything are slowed down and allows the listener to catch their breath.

                “Plotting Forward” is another insanely strong song, this time taking more of a page from a band like Lord Dying but the Crowbar influences are always there. “Plotting Forward” is a bit slower and while the riffs aren’t quite as memorable the vocals in this sound like pure anger and make you want to break something. This song is actually a lot of fun to listen to and just focus in on the drumming, normally with the sound of style Lotek Cruiser have the drums are pretty standard but they stand out in “Plotting Forward” being a bit more experimental and extreme.

                Given it’s a three song EP and i only mentioned two songs you can guess that there’s one weaker one, “Buried Under the Morning Sun” doesn’t quite stand up the way the other two do, but luckily it’s in the middle of the album. With this song in the middle of the album you listen to it and go “yeah alright” then the next song starts and you’ve kind of forgotten about it.


                All in all this is a really strong release from Lotek Cruiser, normally the Doom sound doesn’t really pull me in, but the style of this band and their unique approach to some sounds and the catchy as hell riffing really made it easy to dig. A+ to these guys for releasing something so overly done but making it fresh, I highly suggest anyone and everyone check out “Spirit Vine” by Lotek Cruiser on Bandcamp, there’s something for everyone in these songs.

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