Harms Way - Oxytocin
Black Lodge Label - 2006
By Adam McAuley
Oxytocin can be seen as the perfect cure for someone looking for some music to crash and burn or relax to in an enjoyable fashion. They are stoner metal with heavy rockish tendencies not unlike what
Kyuss used to excel at when they were in their prime and they come by in a very similarly mind grabbing fashion, but with their own unique slant. Stoner albums that manage to pull you into their reins and grip you with very addictive, wholloping riffs are always a welcome suprise and
Harms Way hold up to the tag of suprising me pleasantly. They offer a distinctive version of the stoner sound, at times shifting and shaping slightly into various different textures.
Regardless, they managed to catch my attention exceedingly well and throw in just the proper type of riff to bring me back to my senses appropriately at all the right times. The stakes are elevated by a superior production job and just some solid instrumentation on the part of the band to make for a very exciting listen. The vocalist does sound somewhat like either John Garcia or Josh Homme from
Kyuss or their inferior (but still reasonably good) offspring
Queens of the Stone Age. Thankfully, I think that
Kyuss are a more appropriate comparison point soundwise, but the manage to weave a fairly unique sound throughout regardless. There is a definite continuous sound theme running through the album, though there is certainly enough variety to maintain your interest throughout.
Overall, a very excellent cd and though there is obviously some Kyuss worship on display here, that's not really a bad thing because they manage to take many of the ingredients that made that band so revolutionary and weave them in their own creative and distinct fashion. Highly recommended for anyone looking for good music.
8.5/10
Official Harms Way Website
Official Black Lodge Label Website
