ON THE HORIZON: Weed Demon - Crater Maker

Welcome to ON THE HORIZON, our relentlessly infrequent feature wherein we discuss upcoming albums that have caught our sleep-encrusted eyes. Always on the lookout for the next best thing to wake us from slumber.

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As mentioned in a recent review, we enjoy seeing bands that we reviewed in the Sleeping Village's primordial instagram-bound days releasing new music. One such group is Weed Demon, whose Astrological Passages made for a damn fine listening experience back in 2018. Since then, said album has, on occasion, wormed its way into rotation--and in the massive ocean of stoner doom, wherein bands need to fight hard to stay afloat amidst their contemporaries, maintaining  interest is no small feat.

Thus, imagine our excitement upon receiving promo for Weed Demon's sophomoric effort, forthcoming from Electric Valley Records on April 3rd. Spoiler: first impressions are proving very promising.

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Part of what allows Weed Demon to stand apart from the horde is a distinct emphasis on sheer heft. To paraphrase my review from the days of yore: the most essential aspect of Weed Demon’s sound is the sheer crushing heaviness on display. Everything is massive, impactful, and oppressive by design. The bass is spine-shaking from tailbone to cranium, the downtuned riffage thrums, and the cymbals crash with a sledgehammer fury. Said heaviness is similarly enforced by vocals--which remain impressively fluid, given their weight. Subtle shifts in vocal style allows for a progression that would have otherwise been lost across the 50 minute expanse. More significantly, the primary focus on heft allows the samples, psychedelic harmonica, and softer blues-rock moments littered throughout to provide a fantastic sense of depth. However, make no mistake: despite notable girth and skull-crushing weight, Weed Demon utilizes contrast quite effectively in their songwriting.

To  the great pleasure of this particular scribe, Crater Maker only seeks to broaden that dynamic lens, while still maintaining that soon-to-be trademark heaviness. Be on the lookout for this one--if you're a fan of massive riffage and crushing ambiance, you won't want to miss out.

TRACKLIST:

1. Atmospheric Drag
2. Birthquake
3. Serpent Merchant
4. Crater Maker
5. Elder Tree Pyre
6. Sporelord

​Weed Demon - Crater Maker will be released April 3rd from Electric Valley Records

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​Weed Demon can be found:
Bandcamp
Instagram
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