Stoner rock has always had connotations when brought up in conversation – lazy, sometimes tedious, with a lack of variation. Of course, the genre has its fanbase who actively choose to seek out the artists it inspires, but if you stick any old stoner rock CD on in front of a Pierce The Veil fan then you’re likely to not get on very well. In steps Luna Sol with Blood Moon – a record that has quite a few strange tales behind it. Beyond that it’s impressive on its own, however, as it’s different – refreshing and diverse, likely to pique the interest of any music fan who can appreciate when something is downright good.
The history behind Blood Moon tells the story of lead guitarist and vocalist David Angstrom, who moved in to the Denver mountains in 2012 and immersed himself in the quirky local culture. These experiences went on to influence this debut album by the band which is completed with local Denver musicians Shanda Kolberg (guitar and vocals), Shannon Fahnestock (bass and vocals) and Pat Gill (drums). The artwork was designed by Denver tattoo artist Christel Perkins, meaning that this album is very much a celebration of all things ‘local’.
‘Bridges‘ is the first thing to grace listeners’ ears, kicking off with a driving guitar riff. The vocals are very glam rock – these guys wouldn’t be out of place hitting the stage at Download or Sonisphere. On the other hand, there is a very psychedelic darkness cast over the tune, which would also likely have the band feeling welcome at 1969’s Woodstock.
It must be stated that Luna Sol have a very unusual sound, but an attention grabbing one – a feat that is showcased across tracks such as ‘Death Mountain‘ which focuses heavily on its instrumentals, or ‘Leadville‘ with its chilling, vocal-only intro that sounds like its straight out of a horror flick.
This record is most definitely not for everyone, but if you consider yourself a fan of good music above the constricts of genres then it would be worth giving Blood Moon a listen. It’s very specifically aimed at a niche market, but can be appreciated by anyone who goes in with an open mind.
