Some bands can't seem to avoid this thing called 'bad luck.' A case in point is the band Alunah from Birmingham in the UK. This very good hard rock/stoner rock/heavy blues rock/doom act has had the misfortune of a revolving door of members over the course of their seven-album career, most specifically the lead singer slot, as each time they seem to be hitting their stride, they have to go and find a new vocalist. Here, shortly after their latest release Fever Dream, popular singer Siân Greenaway, who replaced the equally popular Sophie Day a number of years ago, decided to leave the band to give all her attention to her new band Bobby Dazzle. Thankfully, Alunah could enlist another vocalist's services to fulfill live commitments for the album, but the search continues. Back to Fever Dream, now Greenaways's swan song with the band, it's a stellar album, and arguably one of their best. More rooted in late '60/early '70s bluesy hard rock, this album forgoes some of the doomier elements of past albums for a truly accessible yet still heavy and rocking listening experience. "Never Too Late" kicks things off grandly, propelled by huge riffs and Greenaway's soaring vocals. "Trickster of Time" is another hi-energy piece. While the moody and quite psychedelic title cut also blends in some of their early doom influences, the blues are ever apparent. If you think that the music here is reminiscent of the more recent Lucifer, I'd completely agree with you. "Hazy Jane" is a highly memorable slice of bluesy heavy rock, "Sacred Grooves" oozes brooding psychedelia, "Celestrial" hits on some massive doom riffing, the guitars get all sorts of raunchy alongside Siân's soaring vocals on "The Odyssey", and some gutsy riffs n licks from Matt Noble steal the show on the groovy but still heavy "Far From Reality"...and love the flute from Siân!
The album ends with the emotional blues rock of "I've Paid the Price", and again the vocalist knocks it out of the park with her sassy swagger, now the last song on an Alunah album featuring her stunning vocal talents.
This is another late 2024 release that I didn't quite get to in time, but it would have easily made my list of top albums from last year if I'd just heard it in time. I wish the band a promising search for a new vocalist and best of luck to Siân Greenaway for her new Bobby Dazzle project.
Track Listing
1.
Never Too Late 04:41
2.
Trickster Of Time 05:16
3.
Fever Dream 05:39
4.
Hazy Jane 04:38
5.
Sacred Grooves 04:29
6.
Celestial 02:42
7.
The Odyssey 04:15
8.
Far From Reality 03:46
9.
I've Paid The Price 05:01
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