Vista Chino - Peace

Vista Chino - Peace

Napalm Records 2013
Stoner, Desert
Rated: ****

Kyuss fans have been through quite a gauntlet of excitement, suspicion, doubt, confusion, and hope while awaiting the resurrection of the legendary stoner rock icons. After numerous setbacks we finally have what will most likely be the closest we ever get to a Kyuss reunion in Vista Chino and their debut album: Peace. Vista Chino consist of Kyuss alums John Garcia, Brant Bjork and Nick Oliveri, and includes Bruno Fevery filling the gaping hole once occupied by Josh Homme. On Peace, VC conservatively attempt to recreate the Kyuss sound and the results are mostly successful. Dargona Dragona is the band’s first single as well as the most clear Kyuss throwback jam. The rest of the album lacks some the of thunderous guitar riffs and psychedelic musings of, for example “Welcome to Sky Valley” and instead focuses on more laid-back, stoner rock slow-burners akin to what Bjork and Garcia were doing before forming Vista Chino. The obvious highlight of this reunion of stoner immortals is Garcia, who brings his trademark howl front and center and can turn what would be dull affairs such as “As You Wish” or “Adara” into perfect lazy Saturday stoner tunes. The Album’s closer “Acidize –The Gambling Moose” –despite the strange title- gives us the best track off the album andh runs the full Kyuss spectrum of crushing riffage through psych rock mellowness in one, glorious 13 minute epic. If you’re a Kyuss fan especially because of John Garcia’s vocals then Peace is a no brainer, otherwise Peace is a rock-solid stoner metal showcase by a group that knows the sound better than anyone who has done it, ever.

(Written by Matthew McGarity)

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