Alunah are a Heavy Rock band with Stoner and Doom traits active in recent years with solid and energetic sounding releases. The new album “Strange Machine” was released on April 15, 2022 via Heavy Psych Sounds and contains 9 medium length tracks that continue the musical discourse of previous works. The title track “Strange Machine” opens the album, with heavy guitar riffs and a mixture of Stoner and Doom, a solid rhythm session and an energetic and dark vocal. Deep and bearing bass lines with powerful drumming that dialogue perfectly, while the guitar builds riffs and textures that give the sound a granite imprint. A track that immediately plunges us into the Sabbathian atmosphere of the disc. A well-constructed guitar riff opens “Over The Hills” while the structure is closer to quality Hard Rock sounds, with the vocal always energetic and engaging. Enriched by tempo changes and with forays into the more modern sounds of Heavy Rock, it is a well-constructed track that reflects the different facets of the band’s sound. The intensity increases with the passage of the piece that offers some brvei and interesting guitar solo inserts in the second part. “Fade Into Fantasy” features an intro with percussive drumming and a more Psychedelic atmosphere reminiscent of the Occult Rock bands of the 60s / 70s. The vocal adds a dark touch to the sound with enveloping choral parts, developed on guitar weaves and deep bass lines, showing a softer facet of the band’s sound. The intensity increases with the passing of the minutes and in the central part accelerates the rhythm and develops an intense instrumental section that ends with a finale with a fine guitar solo in crescendo. Heavy Doom riffs characterize the beginning of “Broken Stone” which continues to explore the darker side of Heavy Rock sounds, reminding me of the work of bands like Coven and Jinx in particular on vocals. Enriched by tempo changes and with well-constructed riffs and plots is another solid track, with a second part that combines Doom and Stoner traits with technique and quality and an interesting intertwining of guitars in the ending. With a softer sound and more cheerful features “Psychedelic Expressway” recalls the tracks of classic American Rock of the 60s, with a markedly personal touch. Interesting are the tempo changes and the ductility of Siân’s voice, skilled in both energetic and sweeter parts. “The Earth Spins” opens with heavy, dark guitar riffs and powerful drumming, while the bass lines are deep and load-bearing. We return to the heavier sounds of the band with a dark vocal and continuous tempo changes, good guitar works with well-built irff and inserts. In the central part with a change it turns into a softer track with PSychedelic traits where the vocal offers a technical and delicate test with high-level warbling. In the finale he returns to the harder sounds of the opening for closing in crescendo. The shorter track of the “Silver” album is a concentrate of speed and power, with granite guitar riffs and an accelerated rhythm session. At times the Motörhead sounds roar in the accelerations, an excellent track, engaging with riffs that immediately grab the listener. In the second part a very well constructed guitar solo is inserted and with the last vocal parts the song closes. “Teaching Carnal Sins” features a slow moving Psychedelic intro with distorted bluesy guitars and deep bass lines. In a steady crescendo the track will become energetic and with a granite sound combining the darkest features of their sound with massive riffs and a Hard Rock rhythm. The vocal is engaging, energetic and alternating dark parts with other softer ones, while in the final the guitar offers a good solo. The singing returns and the track closes. The album ends with “Dead Woman Walking” characterized by an intro with bass and a powerful drumming on which the guitar is inserted with distorted riffs. With a change the track takes on a character halfway between Hard Rock and Heavy Rock of the early ’70s, revisited with the personal touch of the band. Another engaging passage, with excellent vocal proof and engaging tempo changes. A solid Heavy Rock record that incorporates different influences from Stoner to Doom, mixed with the personal and original touch of the band. Dynamic and intense singing parts that enhance Siân’s voice, well-built and granite riffs, the rhythm session is massive with solid drumming and load-bearing bass lines. A listening recommended for lovers of the heaviest sounds of Rock, with references to the golden years and a personal touch, an engaging and flowing album.
Tracklist
01. Strange Machine 04:59
02. Over The Hills 03:54
03. Fade Into Fantasy 06:14
04. Broken Stone 05:15
05. Psychedelic Expressway 04:13
06. The Earth Spins 05:09
07. Silver 03:36
08. Teaching Carnal Sins 05:01
09. Dead Woman Walking 03:56
Lineup
Siân Greenaway / Vocals
Matt Noble / Guitar
Dan Burchmore / Bass
Jake Mason / Drums