Search - Sons of Otis :: Temple Ball

HEAVY

11/16/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"These might be the most overused phrases in stonerrock - "the heaviest band" and "the biggest sound". With that in mind, I'm telling you now that "Templeball" is one of the largest, heaviest sounding records I have ever heard. Really. The first thing to hit me was the drum sound; never had I heard a drum kit sound so big before. Then it was the bass guitar. Absolutely enormous depth and resonance. The guitar? also heavy. Even the vocals sound huge. I have to say it again, this is a heavy record with a big sound. Too heavy to be real though. It turns out that part of the reason it sounds so damn huge is that drums are not a real kit, but programmed into a machine. The other factor that accounts for Sons of Otis' incredible sound is that they are vintage equipment freaks, and they spend a lot of time and effort on getting just the right equipment for the sound they want. Yeah, yeah, that's all great, but what does it sound like? Slow, spacy, heavy (has this sunk in yet?), blues-rock. For a band comparison, think something along the lines of "V"-era St. Vitus with different vocals and then add a psychedelic twist to it. Lots of flanger effects and heavily reverbed vocals. The most interesting aspect of the band is their quirky songwriting. While the basic framework is slow blues-rock, they embellish it with liberal doses of guitar solos ("Windows Jam", "New Mole") and droning riffs ("Super Typhoon", "Vitus"). The cover of "Mississippi Queen" sounds good, but you can tell immediately that it isn't a Sons of Otis song, it's just a little too fast and a little too straightforward for their style. Nonetheless this is a recommended cd for those who like it low and slow."

Life performance rules with these guys

Jeroen Boon | Den Helder, Noord Holland Netherlands | 10/17/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Actually just seen these guys life on stage in a not so big bar. I was amazed by the shear volume they produce with just a real simple setup. The drummer wasn't even playing on his own kit. And it wasn't a Ludwig he was playing on either. I tell you now that you are not getting the same thing on CD as what they will give you on stage. Listened to a few songs of their repetoire with songs from '94 as well. Songs like Mile High and Windows Jam are awesome. You really get shaken through the bone by that massive reverbed base guitar. I almost would say that it could be music from another planet. Really freaky and almost frightning.A definite buyer for the Stonerock fans amongst us."