Back in 2020, Slomosa released their debut album with the description of their style of music being “tundra rock”. Naturally then, we have the follow up LP entitled “Tundra Rock” and it finds the band continuing to celebrate that vast Nordic wilderness against a backdrop of stoner rock influences. The band have continued to gain more traction throughout Europe and rightly so as their sound has a certain accessibility that has helped them garner a broader appeal.
Opening with a pure stoner monster instrumental in the form of “Afghansk Rev”, the Eastern styled tinge helps create some deliciously heavy riffage. Head banging groove is clearly the order of this album from the get go. The super chunky and catchy “Rice” follows and sits firmly in Kyuss territory. Benjamin Berdous’ vocals are clean and have that soulful quality that has a yearning edge that is well supported by a fat, rubbery sounding bottom end that helps keep the swing.
A more radio friendly sound comes in on “Red Tundra”. Marie Moe’s soothing bass and introductory vocals set up some creeping, fuzzy heaviness that once going starts to come in churning waves of Domkraft influenced heft. The sub-one minute piano led instrumental “Good Mourning” feels a little uninspiring and unnecessary. The effect of light and shade suits many albums but in this instance, it proves more of a distraction given the lovely tone and groove of the tracks that surround it.
The album’s second half pushes slightly away from those Kyuss vibes. “Battling Guns” shows off more of an “Alice In Chains” slant before the more driving Queens Of The Stone Age infused “Monomann” which begs to get decent radio airplay with its’ infectious bass drive. Closing with a hypnotic tribal beat, “Dune” is the perfect soundtrack to the band’s aim of celebrating and transporting the listener into vast, desolate natural expanses whether that be from Norway or Nevada. An apt song title and a highly suitable way to close this sonic journey.
There’s definitely no sense of second album syndrome on “Tundra Rock”. Slomosa have successfully crafted another slab of delightful heaviness that can endear the faithful, attract the curious and continue to build their already growing reputation. There’s no self-indulgence or sense of the overblown here, just some seriously good grooves. Well worth a spin if you’re a fan of the genre or any of the band’s influences.
(7/10 by Johnny Zed)
Leave a Reply