Craneium: Unknown Heights

Here is another psych/stoner rock band that I am very impressed with. The band is Craneium and hail from Turku, Finland. Their latest effort titled Unknown Heights was released in 2021. The band’s debut Explore The Void (2015) and sophomore effort The Narrow Line (2018) I have yet to explore which I need to rectify soon.

What struck me almost immediately were the guitar riffs and lead vocals. First the riffs. What I really dig about this album is the meshing of clean guitar tones and fuzzed out heaviness. It really offers up quite a diverse sound within the stoner rock genre. The riffs are also really catchy so there are plenty of earworms to latch onto, yet this is far from a ‘commercial’ album. Now what about the vocals? In a word, they are outstanding! The vocals soar in the mid range side of things, and he has that hard rock swagger that makes listening to this album so engaging. With the riffs and vocals this good its easy to enjoy this album and I absolutely love it beginning with the first track “A Secret Garden�. The heavy fuzzed out beginning guitar riff is addictive, and when the layers are peeled away revealing excellent lead vocals, well, the results are stellar. With “Somber Aeons� the sound is more calming and mellow, with the guitar tone taking on psychedelic edges and the lead vocals having hints of Ozzy. The keyboards add some spacier textures, filling in around the edges. Another outstanding track. “Weight To Carry� is another catchy track with an addictive chorus and layered guitar riffs. “Shine Again� is a major earworm, especially the vocals and the mix of fuzzy and clean guitar is very effective. Ending the disc is the mellow title track, a sort of cosmic psychedelic trip through a never ending desert. An excellent ending to what is a superb disc, and one which I wholeheartedly recommend.

Released on The Sign Records.

Track Listing:
1. A Secret Garden (4:37)
2. Somber Aeons (6:12)
3. Weight To Carry (7:22)
4. Shine Again (6:10)
5. The Devil Drives (4:22)
6. Unknown Heights (6:13)

Added: October 10th 2022
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Band @ Bandcamp
Hits: 539
Language: english

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