Los Disidentes Del Sucio Motel – Polaris
Release Date: 2nd April 2021
Label: Klonosphere / Ripple Music
Buy/Stream
Genre: Progressive Metal, Rock, Stoner Rock.
FFO: Baroness, Mastodon, Porcupine Tree.
Review By: Paul Cairney
French band, Los Disidentes Del Sucio Motel (LDDSM) have waited 5 years to release their 4th album, ‘Polaris’, giving them even more time to evolve their sound from their early ‘stoner driven fuzziness’ as described in their bio. A further description of them being likened to a cross between Pink Floyd and Baroness is a tad inaccurate, although there is, just perhaps, a tickle of Baroness about them. Fortunately, they do not bore in the way Baroness are prone to do.
Polaris is a very well executed album, whilst not quite dynamic enough for true greatness, it has a genuine likability factor that hints of other bands throughout its 10 tracks. Vocally, we have similarities to the Manic Street Preachers, especially in the 2nd song, ‘Blood Planet Child’.
Eschewing their previous ‘stoner’ elements, LDDSM, have developed a sound that is relatively ‘safe’ but, crucially, retains the song-writing nous that ensures you want to keep pressing play. By the time the 5th track ‘The Plague’ finishes, you no longer yearn for the fuzzy goodness found, perfectly encapsulated, in their split EP ‘East Side Story’.
‘Alpha Ursae Minoris’ has a passing nod to Mastodon, and is, quite simply, the best song on the album. It is nearly undermined by, what initially appears to be, an incredibly plodding intro into the progressive tones of ‘Earthrise’ before it, finally, develops into a decent song – there is absolutely no need for the initial 2 and ½ minutes though.
‘Polaris’ has more than enough about it to be considered a good album. Unfortunately, there are more than enough aspects about it to make it a ‘mood’ album. You must be in the right frame of mind to ‘get it’.
I sit here, nursing a rather nice 10 year old Loch Lomond Scotch Whisky, at nearly 1am and it is, perhaps, the perfect environment to enjoy, ‘The Key’. The song is perfect, at this time, in this space, and in my current state of mind.
Maybe being overly critical of ‘Polaris’ is disingenuous, could it be that each person will associate with each song depending on their own ‘time and place’? After all, I genuinely enjoy the album and I appreciate the progression the band are seeking to attain. ‘Horizon’ has a chorus that belies the meandering verses and elevates it into a place of genuine heaviness that is developed in the midsection. Then again, are LDDSM just trying just that little bit too hard?
I guess you will need to buy it to find out for yourself.
(3 / 5)
