IN THE COURT OF THE SPACEKING

The name of the band combined with the album title of this 2013 release is surely going to intrigue anyone interested in prog or space rock (there is a theme going as their 2016 album was called 'The Piper at the Gates of Stone', which made me smile if nothing else, haven't heard it yet). Spaceking were formed in 2009 by Ivan Zakharov (bass, acoustic guitar, fx) and they released a couple of EP's before having a stable line- up which released this their debut, comprising Sergei Tumanov (guitar), Ilya Yakunov (guitar), Ilya Makarov (drums) and Denis Demchev (fx). This Russian band is often instrumental, although not totally, and are combining stoner rock, doom metal, space rock, psychedelic and progressive influences to create something which is down, dirty, and raw. They were one of the first bands in Russia playing music with post metal influences and styles which has led them to touring quite widely.

It is filthy rock which reminds me somewhat of Blue Cheer, with Sabbath and Hawkwind also notable influences, while Fu Manchu have also got a look in somewhere. The guitar chords and bass notes are so rich and thick that one can sit on them and be carried around the room, while the distortion keeps everything shaking long after the strings have been struck. This album has recently been reissued by the wonderful 'no name' label so is now easily available either digitally or physically, and for those who enjoy these genres of music this is a pleasant trip indeed.