Growth is a simple but fascinating concept that I think everybody is looking for in some form or another. As we continue to scour the floor of the underground to uncover all that it has to offer, stagnation in a band isn't a quality that tends to be something that's actively sought out. You want to see where a band can take their sound whether that be really understanding the core concepts of the genre of choice or evolving their craft into such a form that takes the band in question a step further towards becoming real masters of the sound in their own special way. The latter tends to be the case when psychedelia comes into the mix, especially when there's more than a little heaviness involved. Stonekind's journey has certainly taken them down just such a path with their forthcoming record something that feels like a world apart from its predecessor even if there are clear strings tying the two undeniably together.
Even taking into consideration that Stonekind only has a single EP and full-length album to their name before this release, evolution can still very much occur even if it is only a little bit. It needs to be made clear, however, that "Hollow Ground" is almost an entirely world apart from what its predecessor, "Spirit of the Void", brought to the table. While absolutely still a very intelligent and competent blend of psychedelic rock with tasteful heaviness to really make for an engaging listen, "Hollow Ground" sees Stonekind mature wildly in a mere three-year period that quickly allows the band to become a rising name in their respective scene despite the extremely stiff competition of late. Spread across eight tracks that really feel as though they're meant to be experienced as a single, over 35-minute experience, the sheer spectrum of Stonekind's music has expanded gloriously! Nothing was left off the table during the crafting of "Hollow Ground" as the record just about has it all with every musician having solos to call their own, more than enough trippiness to launch you into another realm altogether, riffs to keep you rooted in place no matter where Stonekind takes you, and a sense of cohesion and fluidity that keeps the album together neatly with such a beautiful bow on top that it's almost a damn shame to open up such a beautifully presented gift. "Hollow Ground" demands to be opened, however, if it is to be understood. And make no mistake - this is most definitely an album that should be felt intimately and intensely lest its finer, sweeter properties become lost.
While we're living in a real golden year for psychedelia when it comes to bigger names and rising acts really delivering the goods at what feels like every turn, it can be all too easy to forget about the bands that have always formed the foundations of such a glorious scene. Bands like Stonekind and albums like "Hollow Ground" are what have always kept us coming back to the sound time after time, year after year to tremendous effect with the intoxication not likely to wear off any time soon. Stonekind has already come a long way in such a relatively short amount of time, and, given what we see in "Hollow Ground", I can't help but feel like they still have higher peaks to mount before all is said and done.
"Hollow Ground" releases on June 14th!
LISTEN to advanced tracks from "Hollow Ground" on Bandcamp here.
LIKE Stonekind on Facebook here.
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