First Band From Outer Space - "We're Only In It For The Spacerock"
(Transubstans 2005, Trans 008)
First Band From Outer Space - "We're Only In It For The Spacerock"
(Transubstans 2005, Trans 008)
Uploaded to Aural Innovations: September 2005
Scott has reviewed a few self-released demos of this Space Rock outfit from Gothenburg, Sweden, but this CD on this Transubstans label is their official debut. And what an outstanding set it is! The album opens with a 5 minute introductory bit that consists of bubbling alien synths, slowly jamming guitars and trippy sci fi themed voice narratives. The tension builds steadily and a rocking spaced out stoner groove that you know is going to explode at any moment reaches toward the peak, until finally launching into the 10 minute "Sannraijz", a monstrous slab of heavy driving Space Rock. Right off the bat these guys are blowing me away. "Sannraijz" has got structured song and plenty of stoned, spaced out, metallic jamming, a great combination in my book. The guitar is heavy rocking with a dirty stoner rock n roll sound, but the electronics are always in the forefront to keep things firmly in the cosmic realms. Next up is "Sometimes Going Too Far is the Only Way to Go", a crushing heap of stoner space metal with an ass kicking instrumental section.
Each track is leading smoothly into the next, with the laid back "Sannraijz II", providing a bit of acoustic relief before leading into the 20 minute title track. "We're Only In It For The Spacerock" is an all instrumental full on jam epic that begins with a meditative stoned groove, the bass lines rumbling in the listeners brain while the guitar slowly jams and the synths shoot about wildly. It's deep in space and does a great job of laying down a steadily grooving metallic space jam while retaining a drifting atmospheric quality. I can't think of many bands that bring together Space Rock, Metal and Stoner Rock like these guys do. The CD closes with the 10 minute "Make Yourself Heard For the Sake of the World". It's still got that stoned space metal quality that's characterized the rest of the album, but the spirit of Hawkwind is well in evidence on this song. The flute is a nice touch too, the flute and rhythms adding a Jethro Tull like fell to the song.
In summary… Outta this world! Most of the album brings to mind a combination of Colour Haze and Litmus, but that's just a reference point as these guys have carved out a sound of their own. File under totally cosmic and absolutely ass kicking.
For more information you can visit the First Band From Outer Space web site at: http://www.fbfos.com.
Transubstans is a sub-label of Record Heaven. You can visit their web site at: http://www.recordheaven.net.
Reviewed by Jerry Kranitz