The journey through modern Heavy Sounds continues with a review of the new work by the Redwood project, a one-man band from Northern Carolina. With its fusion of Heavy Psych, Stoner and Doom among others, the artist has released three albums in which it has consolidated and enhanced its sound. Entitled “Sky Offering,” it contains five tracks ranging from 5 to over 9 minutes in length. The catchy opener and title-track “Sky Offering,” immediately immerses us in the musical atmosphere of the album, characterised by well-crafted guitar riffs and a solid, elaborate rhythm section. The vocals alternate between more incisive passages and engaging choral parts that stick out. The tempo changes are an added value to the sound of the piece, allowing the interweaving of the sung parts with intense and elaborate instrumental sections that enhance the artist’s technique and inventiveness in the development of the theme. Stoner/Desert riffs open “The Green,” a track that shows new musical contaminations and a groove-laden heavy style that embraces space and fuzz-filled sounds. A track that brings back the classic atmospheres of Desert Rock in a modern and distinctly personal context. Very interesting are the tempo changes and the final instrumental section with a good guitar solo insert. “Hills” is the longest track on the album, at nine minutes long. The rhythm section moves slowly and the track increases in intensity as the minutes go by, exploring heavy rock sounds with forays into prog, thanks to the continuous tempo changes and elaborate structure. Long instrumental textures intertwine with the enveloping vocals, in this journey between Psychedelic and the new Heavy sounds that characterise today’s scene. Definitely a carrier track for the album. We return to a more old-school sound with “Friend Or Foe” with its granitic Stoner/Doom sound, incisive and scratchy. The punchy vocals add energy to the track, which manages to bring classic atmospheres into a modern and personal context. With a change in the second part, the artist develops a gloomy instrumental section with references to the raw sound of early Doom. The keyboard background leads us to the final track ‘Hollow,’ a solid and intense piece of stoner/doom, where the heavy metal component is predominant. Killer riffs and tempo changes develop dark and elaborate textures, on which the lyrics, interpreted by a dynamic and expressive vocalist, are inserted. A track that leaves us wanting to listen to this work again in the future. Third discographic release for this one-man band that shows a granitic and mature sound, rich in quality cues, enhancing the artist’s compositional and performing technique. In a genre full of proposals, Redwood manages to find its own fresh and modern sound, but with references to the classic but with markedly personal traits. A recommended listen for all lovers of Stoner/Doom sounds, consolidating the good things heard in previous releases.
Tracklist
01. Sky Offering (05:02)
02. The Green (06:24)
03. Hills (09:00)
04. Friend Or Foe (05:28)
05. Hollow (06:40)
