DEAD MEADOW – Force Form Free
Release Date: 9th December 2022
Label: Blues Funeral Recordings
Bandcamp
Genre: Doom, Stoner, Psychedelic Rock.
FFO: Earthless, Elder, All Them Witches, Colour Haze.
Review By: Anthony Petitt
Over the past two decades Dead Meadow has been one of the bands at the forefront of the increasingly popular “Stoner Rock” movement, having amassed a devoted following because of their intense psychedelic sound. Their latest record, Force Form Free, was created as a part of Blues Funeral Recordings “PostWax” series of vinyl.
The record begins with a crackly, droning guitar that serves as the anchor of The Left Hand Path. The track has a sluggish vibe throughout, and subtle melodies on the guitar add a dramatic flair. One could make the argument that the song overstays it’s welcome, with the last minute or so feeling superfluous. The Lure Of The Next Peak brings in an array of interesting soundscapes to it’s ambient atmosphere: echoing percussion, bubbling guitars, and pitch shifting synthesizers among other things. Force Form Free doesn’t have the heaviness that some of Dead Meadow’s earlier releases have had, but established fans of the band likely won’t hate this newer direction.
Valmont’s Pad has a simultaneously upbeat and laid-back 70’s-esque sound. Think of it as a modern instrumental take on Spirit In The Sky, complete with the fuzzy, quacky guitar as it’s core. Synth melodies take the place of vocals and the guitar work is super pleasant to the ears. Track #4 is a sort of folk-psych ballad, titled To Let The Time Go By. The melancholy acoustic guitar and vocals are mesmerizing, as is the entire song really. It’s a shame the song is only about three minutes in length, as I would gladly listen to a version that was two or even three times longer. This album has the elements of versatility and diversity of sound on it’s side.
Dead Meadow then plug back in for the lumbering title track, Force Form Free. The song is good, worth a listen, but feels slightly unfocused. The album’s concluding song, Binah, is an impressive one. The steady drums guide the listener along a droning journey to the end of the record, which is a great overall experience. If you’re pressed for time, tracks 2, 4, and 6 are the highlights.
(4 / 5)
