When the charismatic and often enigmatic and insane Peter Dolving left The Haunted, many wondered what his next musical venture would be. After a series of spoken word pieces, Dolving decided to move back into rock and metal again, this time taking on the Stoner rock style. This two track EP is something to give us a taste of what the band are working on in terms of their first full length release which is due with some luck, later this year (under the working title of “The Chariot”).
“Eyes Wide Open” opens the short record and right off the bat, the hypnotic and out-there vibe gives off a massive Tool feel to it. The pounding bass, steady drums and droning, mystical sounding guitars coupled with Dolving’s unique vocals just captivates you right away. It comes across as fairly simple in its approach but the way the song comes together, it seems like there is a lot more going on, especially with some of Peter’s multi-layered vocals, slipping between whispers, screams and tormented singing, all adding a confusing yet enjoyable edge to it. Rhythmically it’s not as adventurous as Tool, but it’s got that odd-feel to it which works well when needed. If this is a sample or taster for what is to come from the full length then consider me sold on it already!
“Burn Your Halo Red” has more of a kick to it. Think Kyuss meeting up with Orange Goblin and thrashing out some ideas. It’s got that trademark stoner rock vibe but with plenty of beef and groove to back it up. Slightly more up-tempo than the first track, this one has the more rock approach than the surreal one, but it still has that ‘out there’ feel to it, courtesy of Mr Dolving. With more of a groove and hook to it, you can nod along to this one instead of sitting there in awe like with the previous track. It’s got that raw rock and roll feel to it and when it slows down, it’s got the heaviness which sometimes comes with the darker side of the stoner rock sound. During the lead guitar section towards the end, the bass really sings out with a simple and mesmerizing melody, helping draw you into the song even more, and by the end of it, like me, you’ll be a bit sad that it’s over and that there are only two tracks on offer.
“Eyes Wide Open” is a solid testament to the diversity of Dolving and just how creative he can be when he gets his head in the game and focuses on something. The two track EP is a great preview for the band and their upcoming album, but the fact it is only two tracks long is the only thing which goes against it. I am Fire are definitely one to watch for 2015!
(7/10 Fraggle)
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