People sometimes (not really) ask me what keeps me going after eleven years with the blog. I have many answers but one of the most powerful ones is: "I have to tell more people about French stoner rock". I've written a lot about how much I love this scene; those French guys just seem to rock out like another, equally talented at deep, rumbling grooves, and spacious, psychedelic riffs. This love cannot be pinned down to just band but if I had to choose one as the originator, it would be Stone From the Sky. The first time I heard Fuck the Sun, I knew I had found a new obsession. Luckily, the band have been adamant at sticking to their guns and making excellent, expansive, emotive, and moving stoner/post rock with a passion. Now, the band are gearing up for yet another excellent release with Bakeneko, which comes to us on May 30th. Until then, you can listen to "Hic Sunt Dracones", the lead single from the album, right here!
There isn't enough "yes" in the world to describe how much I approve of this track (and the album it comes from, which I've had the pleasure of already hearing). It draws from the darker side of Stone From the Sky's sound, the majority of the track displaying the contemplative, though no less present, side of their sound. This all builds up, cleverly and without cliche, towards the maelstrom of groove and sound at the end of the track, a perfect encapsulation and release of the energies that led to it. I especially like the approach to production on this final whirlwind, the bass deeply prominent in the mix, the eye in the middle of the deadly swirl.
If this seems darker than even the darkest of their previous tracks, you're not wrong. The band themselves said that this track is "A new shell for Stone From The Sky, and a new way to channel their anger. This track is a faithful gleam of the rest of the album: it will lead you through unknown territories and depths of violence."
Hell. Fucking. Yes. Make sure to watch out for Bakeneko as it releases closer to the end of May through the ever forthright Argonauta Records. Make sure to keep an eye on the band's Bandcamp for a pre-order and, if you're already there, check out their sick merch - I own several pieces and it rocks.