Brain Police- Beyond the Wasteland
(Small Stone Records SS-077)
From Aural Innovations #39 (May 2008)
The Icelandic stoner rockers are back with another CD. This band has produced
quite a few now but most have only been released in Iceland. I did not hear
Glacier Sun (1st) or Electric Fungus (3rd) so I can only compare to the self-titled
second one. The band has added a guy who plays Hammond and Fender Rhodes as well
on a few tracks. Anyway…I think the band is getting more psychedelic,
which is a good thing. Rooster Booster starts things off and these guys really
stick with the classic stoner rock groove and riff. Not that original but it
sucks you right in. It’s all about the riff. While on the previous record
there were virtually no guitar solos, a few rudimentary ones are here. No great
lead guitarist in this band but they are trying a bit now, anyway… It’s
all about the riff… Hot Chicks and Hell Queens picks up the speed and
is harder hitting like Nebula. Black Tulip is next and a very heavy stoner blues
track. The singer is really great and intense on this one and it features a
cool organ solo at the end as the song really pounds! Thunderbird is a great
track. A bit of Kyuss at times with the vocal style but a cool stoned vibe
and feel on this one. Dozer fans will like it. Mystic Lover is a bit spacey
and melodic. Singer is fucking passionate… The Baron again features the
keyboard guy here and there… This is probably the radio track. Human Volume
slows things down and the organ helps to fill in the bottom end. The band takes
their time on this track and lets it build up slowly and has a nice stoney vibe…
Beyond the Wasteland has a really cool groove to it and a little effect on the
voice to give it a different sound. The CD ends with the Sweet Side of Evil…They
go out with a blast… If you dig Stoner rock, then these guys serve up
a full platter of Icelandic stoner music for you to consume. Not that original
but tasty none the less. Great CD…
Check out the record label web site at: http://www.smallstone.com
Vist the band web site at: http://www.brainpolice.net
Reviewed by Scott Heller