HOWLING GIANT

Just in time for Halloween, Nashville stoner wizards, Howling Giant, will release their third full-length album Crucible & Ruin via Magnetic Eye Records. This is their first album with the addition of new member Adrian Lee Zambrano, who brings another guitarist/synth player into the mix, bringing the band to a four-piece.

The album begins with ‘Canyons’, and right away, the textured guitar tones are evident. This is a cool rocker with a heavy progressive feel. The acoustic outro is amazing. ‘Hunters Mark’ offers a big, heavy wall of sound that has a wicked groove. This is one of my favourites. The addition of a second guitar creates a richer, fuller sound. ‘Archon’ features another heavy beat, with the drums showcasing this track alongside the strong vocals. This song features a Rush-like interlude that begins at 3:40. ‘Lesser Gods’ has that darker, stoner vibe. As an instrumental, this showcases the band’s musical talent. ‘Beholder I: Downfall’ creates a cool, thick progressive feel and has a massive bass sound. This is another favourite of mine. There is a wicked riff that carries throughout the track as well.

‘Archivist’ features a wicked drum-and-bass intro with an almost alternative groove. Just two minutes in, the vocals cut in, and this song takes flight. A soundscape for your senses is the best way to describe this song. ‘Scepter And Scythe’ is more of an upbeat, guitar-driven track. The vocals blend well with the technical riffing. This would be a great live track. ‘Melchor’s Bones’ features a cool intro that rips into a massive riff, igniting the song. A classic stoner vibe with some interesting guitar work showcases this track. ‘The Observatory’ is a beautiful acoustic guitar instrumental, at just over a minute, that is so good I wish it had been longer. Last track, ‘Beholder II: Labyrinth’, finishes this album off in style. It feels like the culmination of everything, sending the listener off into the abyss. Not only a great song but a perfect bookend for this journey.

Howling Giant has the perfect mix of the stoner genre, with touches of progressive and traditional metal throughout this album. This can only widen their audience, as this album has to be explored and experienced by all metal fans. Every detail is meticulously thought out in this album, even down to the cool artwork by Susan M. Davies, the mother of vocalist/guitarist Tom Poizine.