Stone of Duna - 2023 - Moonsplitter [mini-review]

(38:31; Fett Gung Studios)

Swedish band Stone of Duna are out with the album "Moonsplitter", and this is a production that might also be of interest for a more progressive rock interested audience. Not due to the landscapes explored being all that close to the progressive form, spirit or tradition, but rather due to some interesting elements here and there. The main orientation of this band appears to revolve around the hard rock based stoner tradition, but with the band making use of some riff patterns and a guitar sound that for me at least comes with associations towards a band like Tool. That the band adds a bit of a psychedelic touch to the proceedings is often a natural component among bands exploring the stoner tradition, but we get a few cases here where these details are lifted up to a more elevated position and explored a bit more in depth, in length and with a bit more of a progressive execution too, which is the second elements here that may be of interest to those with a more defined taste for music made inside of the progressive rock universe. A final detail here are some recurring callbacks to classic era doom metal, which is another one of those features that are kind of expected by bands operating with more of a stoner rock orientation but a welcome part of the experience nonetheless. An album to seek out if stoner rock explored with a bit more of an expansive approach and execution is music that tends to grab your attention.

Olav "Progmessor" Björnsen, September 2023

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/stoneofduna