First off, sorry I took a month to post this review. Life has been crazy as shit lately.
Second, as a preface to the actual review: I am not super well versed in the whole stoner rock scene. I've listened to my requisite QOTSA but that's really about it. So this album was a definite change of pace from what I normally listen to.
Anyway, actual review time. This album was surprisingly varied, although a bit long at 73 minutes. I did what you suggested and listened to the album in two separate parts (tracks 1-8 in one session, 9-16 in another) as well as listening to it on a drive to Denver (which I was actually able to concentrate on the album some, as I-25 south is extremely long and flat. Most of the heavier tracks you can definitely hear the Sabbath influence, but there's thankfully some softer and downtempo songs that give your ears a chance to relax. The second half doesn't hold up as well though, and it's much noiser and drenched in feedback. I feel like I have a pretty high tolerance for that kind of stuff, but it did start to grate. Overall though, I'd say that this album could be slimmed down a ton by removing songs such as Long Gone, the 13 minute extended jam that closes the album. I think the mix may have been why some of it wasn't that palatable, as it's pretty sludgy/dirty sounding. I did, however, like a lot of it and I'll definitely be keeping it around as there's some stuff I dig.
Highlights for me include:
Legavaan Satellite
Fuego
Barcoded
Overall: I'd say 3/5 tabs of acid.
