Brant Bjork Trio – Once Upon A Time in the Desert
Release Date: 20th September 2024
Label: Duna Records
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Genre: Desert Rock, Stoner Rock.
FFO: Fu Manchu, Kyuss, Stöner, Any Desert Rock.
Review By: Paul Cairney
Brant Bjork is a name that is synonymous with Stoner and Desert Rock. As a drummer, he was a member of Fu Manchu and prior to that, the mighty Kyuss (it is a known fact that the prefix ‘the mighty’ must always be used when writing about Kyuss). He has performed on some of the most influential albums in the genre and when saying his name, it should be in a reverential hushed tone.
So, when he lends his name to the band that describes them to a tee, Brant Bjork Trio (there are 3 of them….), then you know what Once Upon a Time in the Desert is going to give you. Grooves and riffs galore!
So, why does it disappoint.
There is a distinct lack of fuzz in the guitar tone. I guess that can be excused as you don’t really want different bands he is a part of sounding the same, but in leaving it out almost entirely, it does leave a subtle hint of sadness in your pleasure.
The tracks also lack a sense of excitement and as one ends, there is no heightened sense of anticipation as the next one begins. There is no accusation of the trio going through the motions, but Once Upon a Time in the Desert, is not a patch on recent albums featuring Bjork, such as the last Stöner release, which also featured Ryan Güt on drums.
The fact is, even a disappointing album featuring Bjork is a decent release, and there are a number of genuinely enjoyable tracks. ‘Backin’ The Daze’ is propelled by the type of groove-laden riff you would expect, underpinned by the excellent Güt and Mario Lallo on bass. Another superior track is, ‘Magic Surfer Magazine’, a somewhat gutsier track rooted with nostalgia. Hey, sometimes a Desert Rock pioneer just wants to be ‘a surfer like you’, a difficult feat in a desert I’d suspect.
Brant Bjork Trio have released an album that may infuriate as much as it excites. Once Upon a Time in the Desert will appeal to fans of Desert Rock, as opposed to the more fuzz-inspired riffs of Stoner Rock. It is a decent, but not great release by a genuine heavy-hitting legend of the genre.
(3.5 / 5)
