UMUR
"The Harvest" is the 3rd full-length studio album by Ukranian stoner/doom metal act Stoned Jesus. The album was released through Moon Records in February 2015. Stoned Jesus was formed in 2009 and released a couple of demos before recording their debut full-length release "First Communion (2010)". The lineup features (among others) singer/guitarist Igor Sidorenko who is also known for his work with Arlekin, Voida, Snakerider, and Krobak.
Stoned Jesus displayed a wide varity of influences on "Seven Thunders Roar (2012)", and it was generally a pretty diverse stoner/doom metal release. The stylistic diversity continues on "The Harvest" which features both crushingly heavy doom metal tracks like "Rituals of the Sun" and "Black Church", and faster paced and energetic hard rocking stoner metal tracks like "Here Come the Robots", "Wound", and "YFS" (I hear a strong Monster Magnet influence on those three tracks). There´s also a psychadelic element present in the music, and occasionally even an experimental/progressive touch (especially in the two long closing tracks "Silkworm Confessions" and "Black Church").
The material on the two predecessors was of a good, and sometimes high quality, but the 6 tracks on "The Harvest" tops the material on both predecessors. The guys in Stoned Jesus have really taken a step up here. And it´s not only in the songwriting department, but also when it comes to the sound production, which is very powerful and organic, suiting the material perfectly. The musicianship is also top notch. The vocals are delivered with great conviction and power, the riffing is heavy and hard rocking, and the rhythm section tight yet loose enough to sound organic. Again a perfect fit for the material featured on the album.
To my ears "The Harvest" is just the right next step for Stoned Jesus. It shows balls, it shows development, and it shows the band are skilled composers and performers. I never doubted any of those things in the past, but on this album they trimmed the fat (but still kept their adventurous edge) and have written some really memorable material that stands out just that little extra, like the best material always does. A 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.