As promised, some reading materials forya. Four heavy duty reviews and one so-and-so to nail our asses to the ground and make us try even harder next time.
Read like the wind.
The Brain.
PennyBlackMusic (UK)
Ah, stoner rock – music from hot dry countries, wide open spaces with few signs of life or habitation for miles in every direction. Almost exactly like where Brain Police are from, with one exception – Iceland isn't exactly the hottest part of the world. For Brain Police are indeed from Iceland, and have scored top ten hits there. They also come heartily recommended by one of the chilly nations' best known musical exports; personally, I was a touch surprised to find that Jonsi of Sigur Ros is a fan of old-school riff metal, but listening to 'Beyond The Wasteland' it's clear that he knows quality music when he hears it, whatever the genre. Because, make no mistake, Brain Police make one of the most authentic stoner rock rackets you'll hear anywhere. Everything a fan of the style could possibly want is here, but with no unnecessary extras, no frills and filigree. Just straight-up riffs, polished to a dark black shine in keys as low as a guitar will tune without being fitted for extra strings; thundering drums and bass creating a rhythm as hypnotic and powerful as the beat of truck tyres on a long desert highway; bluesy melodic solos and lead hooks. Leading the group into battle are the Wyndorf-esque psychedelic howls and roars of frontman Jens Olafsson – who you'd think as likely to be a refugee of early 70's California as noughties Iceland, to judge by his singing. He has a superb voice, full of character and gruff rock credibility. So, the sound is spot on, right down to some muted cowbell, that distancing reverb on the vocals and warm fuzzy distortion all over the instruments. Not to mention classic stoner rock song titles like 'Hot Chicks and Hell Queens', 'Human Volume' and the eponymous 'Beyond The Wasteland'. The overall effect is something like what we might have got had Kyuss been a homage rather than a pastiche. The one thing Brain Police aren't going to do is convert the sceptics. Anyone who is predisposed to thinking that retro riff-rock is lumpen musical revivalism will find little to convince them otherwise, and will wander off muttering clichés about bongs and blacklight posters. Sadly for them, they'll have missed the point. There's a timeless glory in the thrum and blatter of a proper stoner band, and Brain Police deliver the goods. So come take a journey 'Beyond The Wasteland'. Paul Raven
February 3rd, 2008
www.pennyblackmusic.co.ukDaredevil Records (Germany)
Brain Police are the biggest surprise in this month. I know some songs from that Iceland based band, but with BEYOND THE WASTELAND they did their masterwork! They got nominated for some awards in their country (and won for best band, best song, best singer!) and played their with all the big names. Metallica, Mastodon and many more! And it is a masterpiece in the Stoner Rock genre! Brain Police sounds fresh, groovy and full of melodic parts. The opener ROOSTER BOOSTER is a midtempo groover with excellent vocals and the following HOT CHICKS & HELL QUEENS is fast punching track who will bang your head! BLACK TULIP sounds like an HERMANO track and kicks ass! THUNDERBIRD features a mighty riff and over all thrones the great vocals from Jens! Highlight on a huge output is LEO, emotional and with some Grunge influences. BEYOND THE WASTELAND is another great track. The band will play the STONED FROM THE UNDERGROUND this year and they plan a 3 week tour with mighty Dozer! Soon, I think this band will be soon the leader of the Stoner Rock genre! This band rocks! It is a 10 out of 10 point release! And I really don't give that rating! Everything fits perfect (from the songs, musicians to the artwork, packing) on BEYOND THE WASTELAND! KILLER! Music: Stoner Rock Sound: 9 Music: 9 Info: 11 Songs / 49 minutes Jochen
January 9th, 2007
www.daredevilrecords.deThe Cutting Edge
These Icelandic gods of stoner rock return with their fourth installment into the darkened depths of molten magma. Leaving the murky sewer of their old contract and signing this time to Detroit label Small Stone means they get wider distribution and universal attention for their plodding grooves and bludgeoning riffs. Beyond The Wasteland is eleven essential ball-busting tracks delivered as only the men from the land of ice and snow can. Big chunks of blues metal come flying out of "Rooster Booster" with the '70s soaked "Thunderbird" and bass-driven title cut "Beyond The Wasteland" embracing the swelling density of Sabbath's finest moments. The foursome turn and burn through a galloping rumble in "Hot Chicks & Hell Queens" and pound the tundra with "Black Tulip" while vocalist Jens Ólafsson bellows "I got the blues / it's getting me down" shaking the rafters. The four-piece change pace with the Janis Joplin inspired "Snake" which embraces the melodic swagger of "Move Over" and shakes off the dust with the inclusion of keyboards. "Mystic Lover" absolutely sells the record. The song boasts a garagey riff with tambourine fills and a wailing guitar solo that's both hair raising and fuzzy. The modern rocker "The Baron" might echo of Foo Fighters, but its screaming organ fadeout is positively stunning. Never shying away from their Desert rock admiration is the swaying "Leo" that reaches its climax in a six-minute Ozzy frenzy. "Master Volume" leads in with a bass intro that collides head-on with a wall of guitars and crashing drums. The song may not be the strongest in the lot, but its title fits as the volume goes up. The disc closes with the numbing "Sweet Side of Evil" falling somewhere between b-side Fu Manchu and old school Cult. All the way back to "Jacuzzi Suzy" the band proved they could write radio rock with a majestic presence and with Beyond The Wasteland they deliver by the handfuls. Fans of 2004's Electric Fungus will dig the band's progression in sound and production.
January 7th, 2008
www.thecutting-edge.netHellride Music
"Who are the brain police?" Frank Zappa asked that question back in 1966. Whatever he thought the answer might be, I doubt if he considered that it was a classic heavy riffrock band from Iceland; after all, even Frank didn't know everything. It's too bad Frank couldn't have lived to hear these guys, because despite his intellectual leanings he was also able to appreciate good rawkin' every once in awhile; witness his involvement with Grand Funk! Which is where the Brain Police come in. They formed back in 1998 on the little volcanic island of Iceland, and unbeknownst to most of the world, they've been rocking the heavy riff ever since. In fact this is my first exposure to them, but I'm hoping they'll send me their back catalog, because this is some classic hard rocking ensemble playing, and we all know that any fan of The Heavy can never get enough of THAT. Instantly accessible, they've got a gift for melody and evidently do not suffer from bloated self-images, because ego opportunities like guitar solos are always short and to the point and always in the service of the melody. So good on 'em! 'Rooster Booster' has a classic FM sound that seems to combine Mountain with Dozer, with a short, tasteful, fuzzy guitar solo. 'Thunderbird' boasts some killer drums and is the song most obviously influenced by Kyuss. 'Snake' showcases a bit of the old Fender Rhodes, and 'Sweet Side of Evil' sounds like something John Garcia might get involved in after a three-day bender. Nice. OK, so you've heard something like it before, but if your collection boasts the likes of Greenleaf, Dozer, Sgt. Sunshine, Asteroid, Blowback, Unida, Hermano, Nebula, Sparzanza, Josiah, Frame and Honcho, then push 'em all over to the side and make room for Brain Police. It's the least you can do. Kevin McHugh
December 17, 2007
www.hellridemusic.comStonerRock.com
With Iceland's Brain Police, I was at first sort of surprised the band released their latest on the Detroit home to the likes of Acid King, The Brought Low, and Sasquatch. Beyond the Wasteland is the sort of stoner rock you expect from the Nordic region – aggressive riffs tempered with melody and as catchy as crabs in a $10 whorehouse. The strong Kyuss affiliation goes with saying, with fourth track "Thunderbird" being the main culprit. In short, Brain Police is the type of band you cite as a competent example of the genre, but not exactly Small Stone caliber. But this was before I let songs like "Hot Chicks & Hell Queens," "Black Tulip," "Mystic Lover," The Soundgardeny "Leo," the title track, and yes, even "Thunderbird" sink in. Brain Police may not be offering anything truly new, but Beyond the Wasteland still has plenty of good music to it. These tracks are instantly accessible, and more importantly, I could remember them long after I stopped playing the album. And compared to past releases, Beyond the Wasteland is by far the best material Brain Police has released. Small Stone's been on tear the last couple of years, and 2007 is closing on a reasonably strong note with Brain Police. Sure, I don't think Beyond the Wasteland is going to top anyone's best of lists, but it still meets the definition of "good." John Pegoraro
December 8th, 2007
www.stonerrock.com