SMOKE MOUNTAIN
The Rider
Argonauta Records
Formed around a decade ago in 2015, stoner and doom metal trio SMOKE MOUNTAIN who hail from Tallahassee, Florida have quickly built up a reputation for being top quality musicians within this most prized of classic rock genres.
Following on from their highly acclaimed 2020 debut album “Queen Of Sin” their sophomore composition “The Rider” takes SMOKE MOUNTAIN another huge step forward in terms of creativity by exploring several new avenues whilst remaining faithful to their heavy grooving roots.
If you like me love the beautiful and retro sound of the late 60s, early 70s when hard rock and metal was in its very infancy, then SMOKE MOUNTAIN will take you right back to those heady days by rocking your world once more without the aid of HG Wells or a time machine.
With a big nod to the early days when Tony Iommi hit those beautiful chords for the very first time and heavy metal was born, tracks such as “Demon,” “Violent Night” and self-titled track “Smoke Mountain” successfully bridge passage of time and peel back the decades with the blink of an eye.
Hot ‘n’ heavy tracks with deep crushing riffs such as “Bringer Of Doom,” “Hell Or Paradise” and “The Sun And Heavens Fall” all add to that authentic retro sound with intoxicating hooks and gritty vocals that perfectly capture the spirit of those long-lost times gone by.
Standout tracks for me were “The Way To Heaven” which reminded me very much of a Nirvana meets the late 60s fusion and the fast ‘n’ furious title track “The Rider” which echoes an all-time personal favourite of mine, the Pat Benatar classic “Heartbreaker.”
SMOKE MOUNTAIN have certainly taken us on a full-on psychedelic experience with “The Rider” including an all-inclusive trippy journey of remembrance right back to that golden era once more. If you dig the Summer Of Love when everything was totally cool and groovy, man, then you will dig this!
SMOKE MOUNTAIN are very worthy of some attention and a place on the playlist of anyone who longs for the old times to return with “The Rider” giving the present-day audience a brief insight into the humble beginnings of what we all see and hear today under the extremely wide umbrella of modern metal and rock. So check it out dudes, highly recommended!
Mark Waight