Whales And Leeches

Not to be confused with the song of the same name from their eponymously titled debut album, Whales And Leeches marks the triumphant return of Portland’s Red Fang, and their airy brand of stoner rock.

“DOEN” opens the record, showcasing the band’s heavy sound without hesitation. Bryan Giles screams and yells over some chunky guitar riffs, with bassist Aaron Beam backing him up on occasion.

The remarkably simple chorus of “No Hope” is a challenge to omit from memory, and the way Giles and Beam’s vocals play off one another in “Blood Like Cream” make it another definite standout.

Unfortunately, there’s no anthem-like song akin to “Wires” from 2009s Murder The Mountains, but the sludgy doom riffs backing the breathy vocals of “Dawn Rising” cements it as the album’s highlight, and one of the best songs of the band’s career so far.

Comparatively, “1516” is a faster paced track, keeping the album’s latter half at a consistent pace, mostly thanks to John Sherman’s ferocious and tight drumming.

To the albums demerit, Whales And Leeches doesn’t do a whole lot in the realm of innovation, and sounds more or less the same as the band’s two previous records. Evolution and experimentation can be key to a bands success, but fortunately for them, Red Fang’s well-established sound never grows stale or tired throughout the album’s 11 tracks.

When all is said and done, Mastodon should count their blessings they didn’t decide to release anything this year, as Red Fang would have given them a strong run for their money.

Whales And Leeches is another impressive outing for the Portland foursome, sure to appease existing fans and longtime veterans of the band and genre alike.

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