Band:	Weedpecker
Album:	Weedpecker
Style:	Grunge, Psychedelic stoner metal
Release date:	August 2013

01. Berenjena Pipe [remastered version]
02. Mindbreath [remastered version]
03. Don't Trust Your Elephant
04. Kraken
05. Sativa Landscapes
06. Weedfields

Caution. Listening to Weedpecker may result in feelings of euphoria and relaxation. Results may vary. Please listen responsibly.

The line between stoner metal and stoner rock is quite a thin one, and this Polish quartet do a wonderful job at reigning themselves in before venturing too far into either territory. They incorporate just the right amount of grunge into their sound for the added head rush, taking great measures not so spoil your high.

"Berenjena Pipe" - a pipe made from an eggplant for those of you (like me) who don't know their vegetable aliases - starts the album off in typical stoner fashion: impressive psychedelic riffs, catchy melodies, and an overall expansion of the senses. Not only do these guys get it, but they help you get it too, with an impeccably smooth flow and generally straightforward song structures. Of course, being so heavily influenced by the likes of Elder and Alice In Chains, this self-titled debut will take you by the hand as you soar through various realities and dimensions before bringing you back down to reality with some hard-hitting alternative rock segments.

Your cosmic journey will reach its true height with the masterful "Sativa Landscapes", an 8-minute trip through... sativa landscapes. (What am I supposed to say here? It's an aptly titled song.) It catches the listener off-guard with some fast-paced aggressive riffs halfway through but never strays from the album's chill vibe. Vocals are done in a slightly rougher style compared to a lot of other stoner bands, and are similar in ways to John Baizley of Baroness fame at points. That said, they are unique in their own right, complementing the music perfectly by changing it up from raspy shouts to a slightly higher-pitched clean delivery, matching the extremity of the music along the way.

Wrapped in a brilliantly fuzzy production, Weedpecker meets its end at the 40-minute mark, leaving this reviewer begging for another hit. But if this release is anything to go by, the world of stoner music will be receiving some generous contributions in the near future. You would be wise to get in on this before all that's left is second-hand smoke.