Band:	Guenna
Album:	Peak Of Jin'Arrah
Style:	Progressive stoner metal
Release date:	April 19, 2024
A review by:	musclassia

01. Bongsai
02. Dimension X
03. Glastonbury Grove
04. Dark Descent
05. Ordric Major
06. Weedwacker
07. Wizery
08. Guenna's Lullaby

Bands such as Elder, Weedpecker and especially Mastodon have done a lot to inspire a growing number of bands into combining stoner and progressive rock elements. Guenna aren’t pioneers of such a fusion, but there’s something about their sound that offers something a smidge different to some of their peers.

The artwork of Peak Of Jin'Arrah alone might give an indication of where Guenna draw some of their inspiration; both the font and art style take my mind to some early Yes covers. The Swedish group were reportedly described by Nick Oliveri of Kyuss/Queens Of The Stone Age fame as ‘if Yes played heavy stoner music, with all the harmonies and stuff’. In truth, I’d say Peak Of Jin'Arrah is a stoner metal album with occasional prog rock flourishes rather than vice versa, but their retro dabblings effectively complement the record’s core style.

Said core doesn’t necessarily push the boat out; if you’ve heard stoner rock/metal before, the main riffs in songs such as “Bongsai” and “Weedwacker” won’t be anything you’ve not heard before. Still, I’d rate Guenna’s riffs and guitar leads among the stronger I’ve heard within the genre thus far this year; the fuzzy grooves have a satisfying degree of swagger and attitude to them, and the lead guitar work, whether it be brief licks or more substantial solos, make for fun listening. The instrumental detours arguably offer the more noteworthy moments, however, and it is the bridge in the second half of “Bongsai” that offers the first major glimpse of Guenna’s prog rock ambition, albeit less Yes and more Jethro Tull; a brief but striking flute solo near the end of the instrumental passage adds an unexpected flavour to what is already a tasty jam.

Those faint Yes-isms are more notable on “Dimension X”, the album’s longest song; after a bouncy opening to the track, the song’s first verse juxtaposes some very retro-sounding vocal harmonies with a chugging, fuzzy guitar backdrop. Frankly, it would be nice to hear those vocals more frequently across Peak Of Jin'Arrah, as they add a hint of novelty and slot in naturally. “Dimension X” in general is a bit more on the languid side, allowing chords to dwell and reverberate as Guenna dabble with sirens, beeps, and other sound effects on top. It’s also quite chuggy, and there’s a surprisingly percussive and syncopated chug pattern in the closing stages that takes the song in an unexpected but enjoyable direction.

Also on the more languid side is “Dark Descent”, a steady, ebbing and flowing song that is lit up by an impressive, bluesy vocal guest appearance from Erin Pålsson, but in truth Peak Of Jin'Arrah never pushes the accelerator too hard; “Weekwacker” and “Wizery” are lively and throw their weight around a bit, but in relative terms for stoner metal. Outside of those occasional prog moments, Peak Of Jin'Arrah is a relatively conventional stoner metal album, albeit one that pulls off the sound to an above-average standard. Probably the song that stands out the most outside of “Dimension X” is “Ordric Major”, the second-longest and second-proggiest track. It has the widest dynamic range, the coolest guitar licks and the most memorable riffs, and serves as a good demonstration of the virtues of patience and exploration.

Going forward, Guenna might want to up the ante with their prog dalliances, as the occasional moments in which they let their prog rock influences come to the fore ultimately end up being the most memorable moments on their debut album. Outside of them, this is a solid first full-length venture into the world of stoner metal, with fun instrumentation and solid songwriting, aside from a slightly redundant interlude in "Glastonbury Grove".