FAIRIE RING "The Clearing"

FAERIE RING

"The Clearing"

Looking for prototypical stoner rock? Here it is, courtesy of Indiana's FAERIE RING. Not exactly the most intimidating name for a heavy band, is it? Despite that, FAERIE RING is surprisingly heavy at times. I was expecting something a bit cleaner and more sedate, but there are times when "The Clearing" sounds downright mean. Clap your ears on the instrumental riff-fest "Miracle" to hear raw sludgy rock.

The bass sound is really loud and prominent throughout. That's apparent from the opening seconds of "Bite The Ash". FAERIE RING is not doing anything here that innumerable bands on Small Stone Records have not done before, but they do mix things up to keep your interest up. "Lost Wind" is the most relaxed and laid back cut, although picking up quite a bit at the end. If you wanted an all-purpose template for "stoner rock tune", the agreeably chugging "The Ring" would be a great choice, with "Heavy Trip" a close second. "Somnium" is slow and thick, very early SABBATHesque, closer to real doom than anything else here. Then there's the aforementioned sludgefest "Miracle" before the album ends with the rather meandering "Heaven's End". The vocals are super-echoey but clean and the fuzzy guitar solos are what you'd expect.

Absolutely typical stoner metal, but done in such a way that you can't argue with it or take it to task.

KING VOLUME RECORDS

FAERIE RING