Ripple Music continues its series of split albums by taking us on a trip to Spain, offering two retro-sounding bands Saturna and Electric Monolith. Released on April 15, 2022 “Turned To Stone Chapter 4: Higher Selves” contains 9 tracks including 4 by Saturna and 5 by Electric Monolith. Saturna opens the album with “Keep Me Trying,” a solid track with massive guitar riffs and an energetic rhythm session, while the vocals are warm and expressive. The band immediately immerses us in the purest sounds of Rock, with marked reminiscences of the 70s with the retyrò traits and the personal and modern ones that merge. The second track, also by Saturna titled “Following The Sun” is softer than the previous one and with a finer ’60s imprinting. The vocal is warm and expressive and the enveloping sound with fine interweaving of acoustic and electric guitar, bringing our mind back to the golden years of Rock. A very intense song that enhances the vocal skills of the singer as well as the somgwriting with valuable solo inserts. “Drowning” is the third track by Saturna and returns to more energetic sounds with successful riffs and intertwining guitar arpeggios. The rhythmic session is elaborate and full of tempo changes, while the vocal as always is an added value for the sound of the band by interpreting the song with intensity. With the right amount of Heavy overtones and melodic parts it’s another example of how Rock is played, with a good solo in the ending. The first part ends with “Don’t Run” which is the last piece by Saturna and opens with piano and guitar with dreamy atmospheres on which a deep vocal is inserted. A softer and very intense track that once again manages to combine tradition with the personal traits of the band, with another excellent songwriting. Electric Monolith begin the second part of the split with “By My Side” a rhythmic and energetic song, with granite riffs and Bluesy features. The guitar textures are excellent, while the rhythm session is solid and elaborate with driving bass lines and energetic drumming. The mind goes back to the late 60s and to the Heavy Blues sounds, continuing to keep the sound quality of the album very high. “I Hope You Feel Better” is the shortest track on the album, where Electric Monolith offers a passionate passage with melaconic Bluesy overtones. The guitar is the protagonist of a solo that accompanies us for the entire duration of the piece. From the tight and pure retro style “Hold Me Again” shows how Electric Monolith know how to bring back to modern times the quality of the Rock of the past. With a technical and elaborate structure and a dynamic vocal, rich in tempo changes and an excellent guitar solo, a concentrate of quality. Psychedelic and more reflective features “So Lonely Drying” shows another facet of the Electric Monolith sound. Developed with percussion, effected vocals and enveloping bass and guitar intertwining. A lysergic journey that captures the listener and makes him travel with the mind for almost 4 minutes. This split ends with the longest track “Nightmares” where Electric Monolith return to the Heavy Blues sounds that characterize them. Massive guitar riffs, a solid rhythm session and effected vocals bring us back into high quality Rock. You change tempo with engaging accelerations, killer basslines and fine guitar works and a biting vocal, end this great album with a very intense guitar solo. I want to congratulate Saturna and Electric Monolith as well as Ripple Music for bringing us this pure Rock masterpiece. The first part is more pure Rock that combines the more classic and retro traits with the modern and personal ones of the band. The second part has more Heavy and Blues traits, again combining tradition with the personal traits of the band. An excellent listening, which shows how quality Rock is still played by bands like these, as said before in my opinion a masterpiece.
Tracklist
01. Saturna – Keep Me Trying (03:53)
02. Saturna – Following The Sun (05:45)
03. Saturna – Drowning (04:17)
04. Saturna – Don’t Run (03:46)
05. Electric Monolith – By My Side (04:41)
06. Electric Monolith – I Hope You Feel Better (01:42)
07. Electric Monolith – Hold Me Again (02:54)
08. Electric Monolith – So Lonely Drying (03:56)
09. Electric Monolith – Nightmares (06:48)
Lineup Saturna
James Vieco / Guitar and Vocals
Alexandre Sanchez / Guitar
Rodrigo Tirado / Bass
Enric Verdaguer / Drums
Lineup Electric Monolith
Oscar Chamorro / Vocals and Guitar
Ramón Viña / Bass
Pepo Villena / Drums
[…] [REVIEW] […]