Appalooza – The Holy Of Holies
Release Date: 5th February 2021
Label: Ripple Music
Bandcamp
Genre: Alternative, Rock, Stoner.
FFO: Alice In Chains, Kyuss, Soundgarden.
Review By: Kenny Newall
Though hailing from France, the music of Appalooza is firmly rooted in the U.S. Named, I think, after a Pacific Northwest horse, the appaloosa, it’s fittingly Seattle, specifically Alice In Chains that the band look to and lead vocalist, Sylvian is a Staley fan. Enough to fool many a listener if this came on in the background. They even have a track called Reincarnation, but it’s on Thousand Years After that the influence becomes an impression. No bad thing. (The press bio fooled me, though, as it had Stanley-esque and this is most definitely not KISS).
So the vocals on sophomore release, The Holy Of Holies like to flow rather than stab, but the music is more a blend of all things alternative; a grunge/stoner cocktail with a spit of punk and even a Britpop umbrella on album highlight, Distress. The aforementioned Reincarnation for instance gives us some Homme Thayal-esque noodlings, closer, Canis Majoris recalls Sap and Jar Of Flies and a fat stoner bass is perfectly placed in the mix throughout the whole album. Azazael even throws in some tribal drumming because, well, it works.
The problem, though, is the bar set by their influences is so high that this horse is cracking it’s shins a bit too much trying to get over. The lead vocals are great, but the sublime AIC harmonies are mostly absent. The influences also get in the way of each other at times and passages that aim at a great stoner groove have a bit too much lager angst thrown at them. I feel a bit harsh judging an album on its influences as much as its merits, but it’s just so obviously reminds me of the likes of AIC and Kyuss, that it’s always there in the background.
However.
Though Snake Charmer has an annoying minute plus ending that would best be served as that wee bit of coleslaw in the mini dish you can ask not to have, the meat and potatoes were done just right. But the gravy is Distress, showing what this band are capable of when they nail it over the course of the whole body of a song rather than just passages. The video below also shows the playful side of the band, that took me by surprise I have to say as this is a serious album dealing with “spirituality, ancient myths and existential matters.” It also helps to explain why, although a serious album, it’s never dark, despite the subject matter.
The Holy Of Holies follows on stylistically from their eponymous debut which I suspect their next album will too and there’s enough here to make me hope they can up the quality. If they can consistently hurdle the heights of this album, they’ll be a band to reckon with.
(3 / 5)
