As reported by the band, this release is a way to fully establish a new, important addition in the line-up and to announce the imminent coming of a new album, a “culmination of everything the band has been working towards” since their beginnings in 2008. The art dominating the band’s webpage in this period, and thus accompanying this new release, is a cool, reworked photo of a pretty, retro-looking “transgressive” woman seductively emitting spires of smoke. In black and “sinful” purple, that seems to be one of the colours much favoured by bands hinting to psychedelia and downtuned dope rock/metal.
This is possibly a further, visual way to describe Heavy Glow’s music, as seducing and rooted into the then transgressive, and by now classic, psych hard blues/garage rock/proto-metal of the roaring 70s. The "A" and "B" side of the single are called “Headhunter” and “Mine All Mine”. Or is it the other way round? Anyway , almost 8 minutes all together. Not much time, but enough for depicting different moods and directions in the band’s sound.
The band.
Let’s briefly recall the story of Heavy Glow, young unsigned duo (Jared Mullins on guitars/drums and vocals, Joe Brooks on bass) that definitely conquered the scene with their second, stunning, flamboyant super- retro groovy EP “The Filth and the Fury” back in 2010. I still remember the enthusiastic comments when the band shared their tunes in those old days out at the Sludgeswamp. Then Heavy Glow came back to action with their debut full-length album “Midnight Moan” during 2011. That album was a collection of powerful, fuzz-laden ballads where the band devoted to somewhat harder sounds and enhanced roughness via dark and murky production contrasting with the emotional tones coming from Jared’s vocals. Those peculiar vocals too are a landmark of the band, vocals that may clang with raw hard blues distortions as they deviate from the smoke-raspy or gritty, alcoholic macho roars employed by several rock singers. Year 2012 saw the duo becoming a trio, with the arrival of new blood, aka drummer Andrew Hoffman and his “tasteful balance of jazz-inspired flourishes and thunderous athleticism”. Consequently something new might be expected in the band’s sound as well. A somewhat new course may be actually perceived in the tracks of the new single, although 8 minutes are really too short for concluding anything. Anyway these two tracks show that Heavy Glow are trying to beat different paths, still deeply rooted in their main reference old rock scenes, but done in their own way. And you’ll be probably surprised in discovering a softer side of Heavy Glow.
Track “Headhunter” is the heaviest of the 7” and is the one closest to the band’s typical bluesy style, although the sound is a wee bit cleaner than in the last album and the mood is more introspective. The leading melody is mildly plodding and almost minimalistic, a way for enhancing the powerful drumming section. Jared’s vocals are velvety than ever, probably, and merge with this moody melody, from where loud, howling invocations of the guitar emanate. It is as if those achingly Hendrixian electric howls end up being the actual voice in this charmingly somber, emotional bluesy rock track.
Track “Mine All Mine” is the one that will eventually bring sunshine in your grim winter day. This song sounds so “Californian” to me! The fresh, super catchy, dynamic mixture of addictive garage/surf rock-flavoured and acid Queen-of-the-Stone-Age-like vibes plus retro rhythm’n’bluesy pop is irresistible and acts as a perfect nest for Jared’s voice, too. This infectious track was the real surprise for me, I dig it a lot! So, two new tracks drenched with different moods and tempos and structures, new ways of expression for the band.
I don’t know how the new album will be. Do these two tracks mark a completely new course for the band or justrepresent much pleasant stylistic “deviations” and experimentation in retro sounds within the framework of the by now typical Heavy Glow powerful fuzzy retro-blues rock?
Let’s see.
In the meantime, enjoy the tracks, streamed on Soundcloud, and if you are at reach, enjoy the band touring along the US West Coast during January (see the dates HERE). The new album will be out in February 2013 via Cleveland (Ohio)-based Purge Records. Then the band will be off to their European tour.
Words: Mari
Official Website
Soundcloud - Headhunter
Soundcloud - Mine All Mine