Slow Season - Mountains (2014)

Slow Season is an unknown entity to me as I missed their acclaimed debut album back in 2012. All I can say is shame on me as their new album Mountains is a wonderful heavy rock album that I just love. Slow Season blend Blues Rock, Hard Rock, Psych Rock with a touch of 60s/70s Stadium Rock added for extra class. Slow Season will appeal to fans of The Who, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, The Doors, Cream and Led Zepp. If Slow Season were around the 60s/70s, they would be classed as one of the defining bands of that era. They prove that their music is timeless and one that has universal appeal.
Opening track 68 feels it was actually recorded in 1968 though being played for the very first time today in 2014. The vocals have a slight Roger Daltrey vibe to them and 'the soulful bluesy guitar riffs adds an extra touch of class. 68 actually has a dark vibe running through its veins as it feels the band have lived through the more negative times that the 'late 60s and early 70s would eventually bring. Slow Season have carried out their homework on this track as it's a powerful track that will bring back a lot of memories for people who lived through those turbulent times.
Second track - Synanon - opens with bleak vocals and lyrics before the hard-rock riffs fully consume the atmosphere with its perfect balance of tenderness and volume. Slow Season add haunting 'quiet post-rock style vibes before unleashing another powerful blast of crashing guitars and drums to drown your soul with. The lyrics can be quite folksy at times but it gives the tune a more emotional feel to show you that Slow Season bring raw emotion and honesty to their music. The album feels like a classic rock/hard rock history lesson come to life as when the album progresses elements of 60s based music gives way to 70's style Stadium Rock especially on tracks such as Damo's Days which sees a darker Led Zepp/Black Sabbath vibe coming in and once again especially with the vocals. I am not complaining as this dude can really sing.
It's a trippy and psychedelic walk down memory lane though Slow Season are still an original and thought provoking band on their own terms. The instrumental work is superb through out and these guys prove they are excellent musicians with the albums high amount of epic riffs to worship to. The album sounds fantastic through out and Slow Season deserve credit for this as this album has been recorded live straight to cassette tape just like their idols used to do back in the good old days. This is how a brilliant Classic Rock/Hard Rock album should sound. Mountains is a brilliant album that I cannot recommend highly enough. This is simply unmissable.