In general I do not care for tribute albums or albums with only covers. I’d rather listen to a bad original album than to a great cover album. However, of course, there are honorable exceptions as this Blazoner with “Sonic Chambers” EP. Their version of The Rolling Stones “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” is the heaviest I have ever heard and it called my attention to the album even though some of the songs I have never heard before as Queen – a band I do love – “I’m In Love With My Car.” The most interesting thing here is that Blazoner put the songs into their own perspective, kind of making them their own. Well, I think there are two ways of covering famous songs or you perform it inch by inch as their originals, or you perform it your own way. That’s what Blazoner correctly did.
Originally Blazoner are a heavy rock band. As the press release tells “their sound blends the grit of stoner rock, the pulse of classic heavy rock, and the swirling textures of psychedelia, creating a style that feels raw, hook driven, and unmistakably their own.” By what I heard here I believe the press release. The musical wrapping the band gave the songs tell me so. Their version of The Rolling Stones “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” is the heaviest I have ever heard with guitars full of overdrive and a very harsh voice. The band’s version keeps the original idea intact as I believe if they could back then The Stones would have recorded it harder than it originally is. The same happens with Mountain “Travellin’ In The Dark” whose original idea and concept are intact even though heavier due to the overdriven guitars. Here, though, vocals are almost clean.
Okay, I have to admit I do not Genesis that well to say “In The Beginning” keeps its concept intact or even if Blazoner have changed it a lot. From Melvins “Copache” I cannot say a word. I really do not know the band and I am sorry for that, I do not have the slightest intention to get to know them.
To me “Sonic Chambers” is the kind of EP that means a lot for the band proving they can perfom songs they appreciate. On the other hand, I cannot tell what it means for its fans except telling them the band’s roots what, of course, is something that interests the hardcore fans. Their version of The Rolling Stones “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” makes the album worth it.
Blazoner “Sonic Chambers” will be released on February 13th.
Track Listing:
- Jumpin’ Jack Flash (The Rolling Stones)
- I’m In Love With My Car (Queen)
- In The Beginning (Genesis)
- Copache (Melvins)
- Travellin’ In The Dark (Mountain)
Watch “I’m In Love With My Car.” official lyric video here:
I’m just a lucky guy who has chosen metal to live with for a long time. Metal changed my life for good. It made me more confident and stronger. Metalheads are naturally far away from the mass mediocrity and don’t accept impostures from anybody else. Metal is more than music, it’s a life changing oportunity!