Stoned Jesus – Father Light
Release Date: 3rd March 2023
Label: Season Of Mist
Bandcamp
Genre: Stoner Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Doom, Prog.
FFO: Elder, Porcupine Tree, Mastodon.
Review By: Anthony Petitt
Father Light is the fifth record from Doom heavy-hitters Stoned Jesus. The Ukrainian trio recorded the LP shortly before the as of now still ongoing war in their homeland (which the band has been outspoken about on their social media). The studio Father Light was recorded in was even occupied by Russia for a time in 2022, before being liberated by the Ukrainian Army. The record is intended to be the first half of a double LP.
The title track is first up. It is an acoustic number, similar in spirit and length to the intro of what is perhaps their most well-known achievement, the 15-minute masterpiece I’m The Mountain. Song two, Season of the Witch, has a gargantuan sound. It’s a righteous assault on the ears, accompanied by lackadaisical vocals. This is followed by a section in the rare to hear 7/8 time signature, and then the song is blown wide open sonically. These changes in vibe throughout the song could be awkward, but there is a flow to them that prevents this. The sound is massive for a trio. It becomes clear at this point that Stoned Jesus has maintained the high quality of output that they are known for.
Thoughts and Prayers is the band’s take on a blues shuffle, and it is jangly and airy. The lyrics on the other hand are cynical and biting. In the song, Stoned Jesus take on the hollow message of “thoughts and prayers” that people use rather than acting to make any meaningful change to actually help ease the suffering of others. Porcelain sounds a little like a stripped-back, mellower Tool. On the other hand, the following track CON is fast and punky, while still retaining various time signature changes.
The band returns to what they do best, doomy anthemic pieces, on the last song Get What You Deserve. And these three guys deserve a lot of praise for their consistency, especially during the upheaval that they continue to experience in their home.
(4 / 5)
