Review Summary: Grooves unconditionally.
It’s been quite a while since Stonebride graced us with a full length record. Aside from the
Animals on Display EP, they have remained quiet for the past six years. The Croatian stoner rock quartet definitely took their time to craft their latest affair,
Smiles Revolutionary. A tad more laid back overall than its predecessor,
Heavy Envelope, this LP is a solid reminder of the band’s strengths, crafting gritty riffs, augmented by smooth, layered vocal melodies. They have a fine way of inserting various cool rhythm breaks on each track, never relying solely on that straightforward, fuzz-drenched rampage. Highlights such as “Closing Distance” or “Turn Back” share multiple tempos, switching back and forth between pile driving grooves and fragmented segments. The dry production renders that American, desert rock sound more than ever before. Nevertheless, there are traces of Colour Haze too, especially on the clean guitar tones. Meanwhile, “Shine Hard” transitions from raucous riffage to mesmerizing, krautrock inspired, cyclical progressions, plus a powerful solo. Then, final number, “Time and Tide” slows things down, building a more reflective atmosphere. The bluesy leads and Josh Homme-esque vocals make for a nice conclusion to this short yet sweet journey. On the verge of their 20th anniversary, Stonebride got ready to celebrate with another strong entry in their catalogue. Perhaps not as aggressive this time around, their output remains strong among the acts in the genre, especially European peers. Releasing music when there’s something to say, keeps things interesting for them, as well as the listeners.
Smiles Revolutionary is the group’s most mature album so far and a fun, catchy listen at the same time.
