22 Nov 2024
UsernamePassword

Remember Me? | Join | Recover
Click here to sign in via social networking

The Slider - Album Review: He Calls Your Name

16 Mar 2020 // A review by kongfooey

The Slider features two tortured souls from Auckland heavy rock/blues band His Masters Voice (The Devil's Blues).

Rene Black and Az Burns have created a down and dirty little beast here, featuring Rene on lead vocals and drums, with Az tackling all guitars/bass and keys, and there is a stack of talent on display within.

The album kicks off with The Beckoning, a church organ / industrial keyboard intro that does indeed beckon you to explore further. They Crawl opens with a gunslinger flavoured riff, I can picture this song opening a dark and twisted Tarantino or David Lynch western film. The vocals are slippery, distorted and raw and remind me of a cross between Marilyn Manson and Tom Waits. Just over the halfway mark and the song kicks into gear with tasty drums, heavy guitar licks and doomy bass runs, I feel like I need to shower after listening to this track, grimy, low down and mean, very cool.

Dead Inside starts with a sample then eases into a Portishead inspired groove but with a filthy blues underbelly attached. Tasty guitar licks and subtle keys add sweet icing to the menacing cake base. The Night kicks off with harmonica, distorted vocals and more of the western blues-tinged doom style, with Rene's cool lyrics "I'm the devil and I'm the man, I'm a rebel with simple plans" it's dripping with dark blues and this track cements the sound these guys have created.

The Crossroads is indeed the devil's blues, featuring some very tasty guitar playing by Az burns. It's a cool interlude before Funeral Pyre takes a grip, this blues/doom number slowly devolves into metal riffing whilst still retaining a heavy blues flavour and works well. Other stand out tracks are Blind and the epic 10-minute plus closing track I Am The Snake, a sprawling evil bluesy number, that's experimental, heavy and oh so delicious.

The Slider have created a sound all of their own here. I call it horror movie western blues. If quality heavy n dark doom blues is your bag then this offering will definitely spin your wheels. Nice work lads!

Rating: ( 5 / 5 )
 

About The Slider

From Auckland, NZ, long term musical partners Rene Harvey and Az Burns (both current and previous members of His Masters Voice, Cripple Mr Onion) are proud to present The Slider.

A product of over 20 years of playing music together, The Slider began as a stripped back blues project but has turned into its own monster exploring dark doom, psychedelic, graveyard blues...

All duties were conducted by the two of them:

Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for The Slider

Releases

He Calls Your Name
Year: 2020
Type: Album

Other Reviews By kongfooey

Gig Review: Gramsci @ ASB Waterfront Theatre, Auckland - 16/10/2020
18 Oct 2020 // by kongfooey
The anticipation was high for this show for two reasons. One, it was the first gig out for us since Auckland was locked down for the second time this year.
Read More...
Sonar.Suite - Single Review: Flip Siide
09 Sep 2020 // by kongfooey
Flip Siide kicks off with a lone chilled blues guitar before a sweet vocal style similar to Brittany Howard (Alabama Shakes) kicks into gear. Brendon Thomas is the mastermind behind this slippery little funk number.
Read More...
The Vibes - Single Review: Funk Blaster
20 Aug 2020 // by kongfooey
Hot of the press this latest offering from The Vibes. Funk Blaster is a tribute to James Brown and the Red Hot Chili Peppers and it's a great big slice of funky fun.
Read More...
SOJØURN - Single Review: Stand Up
20 Aug 2020 // by kongfooey
As with a lot of established and up and coming Kiwi artists, the pandemic that is Covid-19 has thrown a spanner in the works for recording, releases and live shows and SOJØURN have also been in the same boat. But here it is, the latest offering from these young Northland lads.
Read More...
Summer Thieves - EP Review: Bandaids and Lipstick
30 Jul 2020 // by kongfooey
Much like their contemporaries Six60, Summer Thieves started from humble beginnings in Dunedin many moons ago. Starting as a high school band of sorts, Jake and Johnny have been jamming together since the ripe age of 15.
Read More...
Gig Review: L.A.B. @ Spark Arena, Auckland - 3/07/2020
05 Jul 2020 // by kongfooey
First off, congrats to L.A.
Read More...
Sola Rosa - Single Review: For The Mighty Dollar Feat. Kevin Mark Trail
01 Jul 2020 // by kongfooey
Sola Rosa aka Andrew Spraggon is in a unique position in his career to be able to collaborate with some of the planet's best musicians, and on the second single from the forthcoming album Chasing The Sun he has hit the musical jackpot. The track kicks off with horns, sparse funk guitar and classic strings before kicking into the cool and catchy chorus.
Read More...
Riqi Harawira - Single Review: Ruapekapeka
11 Jun 2020 // by kongfooey
Back in another life (during the 90's), Riqi Harawira used to let my bandmate and I crash at his pad on Fort Street in Auckland whenever we were on tour. He was a good dude, played lead guitar for Dead Flowers and both our bands were on the same label (Wildside).
Read More...
View All Articles By kongfooey

NZ Top 10 Singles

  • APT.
    ROSÉ And Bruno Mars
  • DIE WITH A SMILE
    Lady Gaga And Bruno Mars
  • BIRDS OF A FEATHER
    Billie Eilish
  • TASTE
    Sabrina Carpenter
  • I LOVE YOU, I'M SORRY
    Gracie Abrams
  • ESPRESSO
    Sabrina Carpenter
  • SAILOR SONG
    Gigi Perez
  • LOSE CONTROL
    Teddy Swims
  • A BAR SONG (TIPSY)
    Shaboozey
  • GOOD LUCK, BABE!
    Chappell Roan
View the Full NZ Top 40...
muzic.net.nz Logo
100% New Zealand Music
All content on this website is copyright to muzic.net.nz and other respective rights holders. Redistribution of any material presented here without permission is prohibited.
Report a ProblemReport A Problem