Blending stoner/desert rock with blues, psych and alt-metal is not something new, there are a million and one bands out there doing much the same thing, many who have graced Desert Psychlist's pages, but to blend those elements without one gaining total dominance over the other is somewhat of a feat. California's Desert Suns, Ben McDowell (drums); A.J.Belluto (guitar); Lucas Fisher (guitar); Gabe Fonseca (bass) and Jason Busiek (vocals), are a band who have that balance almost down to a fine art. Of course it has not always been that way, it takes time to polish coal into a diamond, but with a few line-up changes along the way the band have arrived at a sound that really allows them to sparkle in a way we, who have been following their progress, always knew they could. and that sparkle is something that can be found shining through each and every track of the bands latest release "Edge of the Sky"(Glory or Death Records).
"Edge of the Sky" begins its account with "Sweet Sorrow" a song that along with all the usual aspects Desert Suns bring to the table with their music also includes an element of proggish complexity, Fisher and Belluto trading convoluted chord progressions, ear pleasing twin motifs and swirling solos over a backdrop of ever-shifting groove expertly supplied by the bass and drums of Fonseca and McDowell. What we are talking about when saying "ever-shifting" are the songs seamless transitions between passages of up-tempo driving stoner/hard rock, dank doominosity and serpentine prog and psych. Some of you out there will already know Busiek from his vocal work with his other band the excellent Sea of Snakes and his vocals here are no less impressive, his strong powerful tones bringing an air of soulful weariness to all they touch. "Luck of the Draw" follows and jams a groove that is for its most part a little more straightforward and rocking than its predecessor though that does not mean it does not have its moments one of which is when the guitars face off in a duelling match reminiscent of those days when the guitarists in bands like Thin Lizzy, UFO and Lynyrd Skynyrd would just let rip and push each other to go that extra mile. There is a laid back and bluesy feel to next song "Real Eyes" but its a bluesy feel tinted with a touch of grunginess, a grunginess that does not come from its instrumental attack, which remains bluesy throughout, but from Busiek's vocal which carries just a hint of the late Layne Staley's (Alice In Chains) pained grittiness in its tones. The Alice In Chains feel of the previous tracks leeches into next track "Daisy Chain" but this time with Fisher, Belluto, Fonseca and McDowell matching Busiek's grunge like vocal delivery with a groove that is far more rainy Seattle than it is sunny California. Desert Suns bring a bottle of haziness and a carafe of fuzz to the party for final number "Fata Morgana" a song that begins life hazy and languid around an understated crooned vocal but then suddenly erupts into a groove that has desert party written large all over it, especially in its final quarter when things get a little more "out there" and improvised with the drums and bass acting as an anchor for swirling double guitar pyrotechnics.
It could be argued that any band with "desert" in their name are likely to jam a sound that reflects the use of that word.. and Desert Suns are no exception. The band have always had that expansive psych/desert element in their locker, however the introduction of Lucas Fisher and Jason Busiek to the bands ranks has brought to the table elements of alt-metal, acid rock and prog that although may have been present on previous albums are on "Edge of the Sky" much more prominent and defined, all of which has resulted in the bands sound becoming so much more rounded and immersive.
Check it out ....
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