![]() ![]() Better late than never.My oh my how time flies. This album slipped through the cracks here at The Sleeping Shaman as it was released back in November of 2021, but I’m glad we got the opportunity to review this record. Spacelord and False Dawn are made all the more impressive by the fact the band is a duo. I don’t throw Chris Cornell comparisons out lightly, and I don’t want to suggest that Grabianowski is Cornell, or one of the early 90s grunge vocal gods reincarnated, but he does own some great pipes, the Cornell influence, and delivery is definitely there. What I found after repeated listens was a pretty unique take on heavy rock, especially considering how so many bands in the stoner/doom realm sound, with a big-time nod to classic rock, especially Led Zeppelin, mixed with early 90s grunge, a lot of acoustic guitar, and a singer who definitely has the dynamic rock voice to pull it off. ![]() I expected some stoner rock, based on the name of the band, and what I had read about their previous releases, but in all honesty, I didn’t know what to expect. To say I was surprised by False Dawn would be an overstatement. False Dawn closes with Starswan, another Zeppelin-esque attack ensues, as the duo open acoustically, before descending into a bring-the-house-down rock & roll finale. Grabianowski shows us he’s no slouch in the riff department, while once again displaying his pipes, his crooning now includes hints of Alice in Chains as the vocal melodies float nicely above the music. M-60 also features some of the heavier, more menacing guitar riffs on the record. M-60 takes a minute to get going, opening with some combat soldiers’ sample, that and the title suggesting a war/combat song. If a band has the stones to break the flute out, well, I have to give ‘em a nod.Ī big-time nod to classic rock, especially Led Zeppelin, mixed with early 90s grunge, a lot of acoustic guitar, and a singer who definitely has the dynamic rock voice to pull it off…Īll Night Drive is the sonic equivalent of the title, as Root conjures an, ahem, driving beat suitable for long highway stretches late at night, meanwhile, Grabianowski finds nice complimentary guitar notes and really lets loose on the vocals as Spacelord stretch for all its near eight minutes. I’m left reminded of Chris Cornell’s Seasons with more guitar muscle, as in amplified, and a fucking flute. Crypt Ghost a highlight, and centerpiece of False Dawn, heads back into acoustic territory during the intro before building into a dead ringer of an early 90s grunge epic. Meanwhile the spacey Breakers drops into Pink Floyd territory, if not with a bit more riff-heft. How The Devil Got Into You steers right back into Zeppelin territory, specifically conjuring up thoughts of Led Zeppelin III, with its acoustic, rollicking, tambourine-jangling bounce. Broken Teeth Ritual changes gears with a menacing, early 90s Soundgarden riff, as Grabianowski displays his formidable pipes. Not to be left out, the other half of the duo, bassist and ‘drum conjurer’ Rich Root offers some tasty rhythm action, including some slippery bass lines. Although slightly distorted, his vocal skill shows up right away. Grabianowski showing us right off the bat his vocal range and prowess. ![]() Vocalist/guitarist Ed Grabianowski sounding close to early 90s legends Chris Cornell, Layne Staley, and Shannon Hoon in places, a big compliment from where my 50-year-old, Gen X ass is coming from, but Spacelord also have a whole lotta Led Zeppelin going on.įalse Dawn opens with Enemy Lines sounding exactly like the aforementioned description of the band. While I have not heard Spacelord’s first two releases, False Dawn, the duo’s third, their sound is a lot closer to late 60s/early 70s rock and psych, with generous helpings of grunge. ![]()
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