Sidewinder – Talons

 

Sidewinder – Talons  
Wyrmwood Records – 2024
Rock, Hard, Blues, Psych, Stoner
Rated: ****

As we inch closer to the deadline for YOUR lists for the Stoner HiVe Top 20 Countdown of 2024. Namely, before Saturday December 14th, 8.00 CET. We decided to deep dive into that folder full of albums we desperately had wanted to mention this year. We wrote about something like 250 albums and EP’s this year. But in that folder, there are still some 400 more that we had wanted to bring into your peripheral vision. And we are saddened that we will never get to that… But well, besides trying to keep up with all the new ones coming out, we’re now trying to bring into the spotlight one from every month passed that we unfortunately did not mention during the month they were released.

Back in August, the New Zealand five piece Sidewinder released their Talons album. And it has been a go-to record for many times ever since we first heard it. There’s a dusty metal touch to the eight tracks, but that might also be due to that minor southern rock influence that seems to float across some of the tracks. Cause Talons gives you hardrock, stoner infused, some psychedelic touches and a whole lotta blues. Bluesy guitar lines, thundering riffs and vocalist that approximates a growling tigress. Her name is Jem Tupe and she sounds like she could be the next great rock ’n roll performer. Powerful with her blues inspired strokes of empowerment and the way she manages to dominate such a great record that brings so much brilliance with its instrumental work. Her fierce rasp booms across the chugging Disarm The King for instance before turning into a haunting screech. Yes, she’s one hell of a vocalist and it will take you a couple of sessions to come to grips with all she seems capable of and then… finally hear all that masterful drum work, that blistering resounding bass and those howling guitars. Such a freaking good album!

(Written by JK)

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