Huanastone - Third Stone from the Sun

Share this on Facebook | Share this on Twitter

Svíþjóð stoner band HUANASTONE (2012) has a cracking new release from the Land of the Midnight Sun. “Third Stone from the Sun” was recorded live at Studio Möllan in the band's hometown, lovely Malmö right across the Öresund bridge from Byen København, Denmark. I don’t know what numbers more, great Swedish bands or minke whales …
Opening cut ‘Viva Los Muertos’ dead tracks in with a plodding riff reminiscent of MOTHER LOVE BONE ‘Stardog Champion’ then gives way to Tobias Gonzalez’s smooth baritone. Tobias has a vocal character very much like Panos Gklinos of Greek stoner rock band DEAF RADIO, and I surely do dig DEAF RADIO although this song doesn’t really take off for me.  Next track ‘Bad Blood’ bounces with Filip Larsson’s noodling bass line in subdued riffs and salvaged lyrical ideas all the while reminding us about the Bad Blood.

‘Oliver Pt.1’ is an acoustic guitar instrumental complete with fret buzz that goes to ho-humville. ‘Oliver Pt.2’ on the other hand is a rawkin’ tune that kicks this release into gear, cycling and churning the two stroke dynamics allowing the song enough grease to run free, damn the close influences. ‘Third Stone from the Sun’ follows along with a smooth groove … maybe too smooth … Something new Something right  … Track 6 ‘Carnivore’ has a cracking mod-guitar chord progression that would make Josh Homme take notice along with thoughtful on-point vocal arrangements. Midpoint the rhythm buckles into a de trop speedway interlude in this serviceable song, but it lags with a sleeper groove and pedestrian pacing.

7^th song ‘She’s Always’ is a boss track and at the 4:30 mark we get the SubnUp octave guitar pedal treatment, a treatment of which I regularly dose myself with as well. ‘Neverending’ is a nice vocal arrangement wrapped in one lick for most of the song, and this I doth proclaim as My Favourite Tune. The songs on “Third Stone from the Sun” draw from “Alarm” era DEAF RADIO. I was introduced to  DEAF RADIO by their 2017 release “Alarm” and I listened to it dozens of times, it is a banger. There are some indubitable QOTSA influences here on “Third Stone from the Sun” but it would be a mistake to say that is the only thing HUANASTONE have going for them. I would like to see the band step out from the obvious DEAF RADIO production cues. The vocal arrangements along with the fine voice of  Tobias Gonzalez are worthy of a listen and I imagine they bring the rawk live.

Meaner than a skillet full of rattlesnakes…born on the wrong side of the blanket and naturally horizontal...Dani Bandolier’s Spotify list of reviewed bands…

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/272H3UBARsuksY3BqU0CzP?si=qKZ5KlcsQjiOS-ySE1JsHg

Songwriting: 8
Musicianship: 8
Memorability: 7
Production: 7