Ramon Zarate - S.T.

Downloadable through Poison Tree records / CD version through Freebird records


Somewhere
snugly in the middle of the rock and metal spectrum stonerrock has
carved itself a hazy little niche of its own. The strange thing about
it, of course, is that not many actual stonerbands like to be tagged
that way. Well I'm not a creative musician looking for an artistic
identy nor an uptight reviewer hoping to score scene-points. So I use
the S-word when I like to and concerning this record I state that
stonerrock label is all over it. From hyperfuzzed guitars over the
raspy but intelligible vocals to the lyrics chiefly dealing with sex
and fun. So according to any inclusive or exclusive defintion you can
blog these cats are stonerrock. Now, we've got thatout of the way and
generally speaking it's a good thing. Belgium's rock scene has lost a
couple of bands over the last few years and there's plenty of space for
low brow, hard rocking groovyness on stage next to Cabron and the
recently resurrected Hulk(k). Whence in the front stage no proper fan
should bother if this riff is too reminescent of Kyuss or that harmony
rubbed of a QOTSA disc all too easily. Good times galore when played
loud and tight but do these tunes hold up once trusted to unmerciful
living room hifi set? Basically yes, these guys write clever tunes with
enough personality to avoid boredom. It's guys, plural, methinks it's a
witty to pick person's name for a band name but here are four persons
hailing from the Liège area involved. I dunno if it's got anything to
do with their cultural background or their recording in Spain but a
they made a steaming hot album.

Sparks of barely concealed
sexual encitement career away from your speakers when tracks like Outta
Line, Backseat, Fuck Me and Sex Me Honey pass under the laser. These
cats have only one intention towards women and they make no bones about
it. With songs like the last one they'll attract nothing but dodgy
girls, but that might just be the point. Some of these will undoubtly
be attracted by the raspy singing voice of Ivan Decastillo. He likes to
carry a note from time to time but fails to stay exactly in tune, it's
quite charming but sometimes he fails completely. It speaks for him
that he always sounds like a horny human and never like a depraved
beast. The guitars usually don't sway outta line so much, here and
there we hear a solo but mostly they aim straight at our hips with
tight and fast riffing. The fuzz knob is turned to the max all the way
through but they're a little more lenient with the gas pedal. Outta
Line is a rancid piece of blues with overdriven fuzz guitars, Dust to
dust is, while slower, none less raunchy than the bulk of the cd. It's
a perfect driving track for on a hot summer day. The rumbling bass,
frantic drumming and big vocals make this one perfect to shout along
behind the wheel. The drummer often adds to the power of the songs. He
has a loose and hyperkinetic s t y l e the jagged, angular rythms give
the tracks a positive sense of urgency. Also in the slower parts the
drummer proves to be the band's solid foundation. Here and there they
brush off a bit of the raunchiness, I tend to hear a little Seattle
influence in Neverland. After the last song listed we're treated to an
acoustic instrumental that's rather enjoyable.

Nothing
worldshattering here, but nobody expects that from a bona fide
stonerrock band, right? These dudes from the fiery city hold their own
with straight up hard rock that wears it's heart on it's sleave and
gots the testicles provocatively dangling in the trousers. Recomended
to everybody that loses appetite from radio rock

NOW PLAYING: trigger the bloodshed


URL: http://www.myspace.com/ramonzarateband