It seems whenever we go spouting off about how we’re super picky when it comes to covering instrumental artists there then seems to be an inordinate amount of bands playing in that sandbox whose albums just happen to flood the digital mailbox soon after. Oh, and as a bonus, we get one with a new album that features a guest spot from one of our most favorite vocalists of all times (So this one’s not entirely instrumental…). But then we go and miss our marks and an advance premiere cools our momentum on getting the review out in a timely manner. Yet we already had, like, 300 words crafted and this badass intro. What’s a music blog to do?!?!
Finish the gotDamned review is what! And when talking The Grey’s MASSIVE new record Kodok, there really is no way we could just let it go without getting a word or two or three thousand in (The review is shorter than that, calm down). “Painted Lady” is worth the price of admission alone. A gargantuan opener that sits at almost 12 minutes long and just moves with seemingly no effort at all (For the record we acknowledge there is substantial skill behind all of what The Grey do), the track acts as a bridge from 2019’s Dead Fire into this broader, more expansive undertaking.
“La Bruja (Cygnus)” is just gross …but in a good way with Steve Moore’s intensely intricate playing providing a constant flow whether it be from staccato attacks or a riveting rumble as Charlie Gration’s guitars mesh with Andy Price’s bass to provide the heaviness that sways into some entrancing mysticism during the brief vocal passages before dancing with the dirges once again. “Sharpen The Knife” EASILY could’ve been a Will Haven song with the way The Grey morph around WH vocalist Grady Avenell’s very distinct vocal style yet still manages to stay distinguishable as a monster The Grey jam with “CHVRCH” up next to beautifully bludgeon any senses listeners might have left after that Grey Haven throttling (See what we did there???), resetting the stage with a concise nine minutes of new monolithic musical memories. We’re hesitant to bring up that instrumental band out of Chicago as they’re too easily a go-to when talking up any other act in that realm but there’s definitely some parallels between The Grey’s signature wall of sound and that of the fellas who wrote Australasia. Until those screamed vox come in, that is, and it’s all bets off and The Grey for an easy “W” this round.
“Don’t Say Goodbye” is another where The Grey take a backseat to The Grey becoming chameleons to accompany the legendary talents of Ricky Warwick (The Almighty, Black Star Riders) for one of the most tender (and shortest) tracks on all of Kodok going for a more straightforward approach on this atmospheric aura enhancer. And then “AFG” lays it all out one last time with a slick five minutes of raucous riffs and an overall buzzing glow from Gration, Price and Moore’s playing until the track hits its’ peak, culminating in a flurry of strumming, plucking, and hitting.
Kodok is out through Majestic Mountain Records now and you can head here to get your own copy immediately or head here for vinyl versions. For more from The Grey, follow the trail of socials by clicking here or here.