Review Summary: The stellar return of Rotor...
This Berlin-based stoner rock/psychedelic quartet have always been an elusive act among the genre's fans. Their distinct take on this type of music has always taken a slightly different route than most people expected. Indulging in laid back grooves, while often crafting dissonant, robotic riffs too, these guys have managed to create a sphere of their own over the last 18 years. Although, Rotor have never reached the level of success other acts did, their tunes were highly sought after. Of all,
3 and especially
4 have been their most rewarding efforts yet, rivaling the best German peers, including Colour Haze.
After a 5-year break during which the band kept a low profile, Rotor have returned with a new album,
5 and also added a second guitar player to the line-up. Like expected, the results are once more different, the atmosphere being richer due to the increased interplay between the two guitars, whereas the rhythm section keeps as always things tight and groovy. Opener 'Echolot' shares some lovely echoed leads and tremolo chords, playing over some slick bass lines. These hazy moments are interrupted by crunchy riffs, which throw us right back into their universe. Meanwhile, 'Rabensol' offers us a pastoral melody, one of the sweetest in their catalog. They wear their roots rock influences on their sleeves with the airy, boosting bass leaves a lot of room to be filled by the guitars. Note the perfectly chosen tones that add so much to the vibe.
Diversity is an important factor to
5, as each song develops in a different way. 'Volllast' is another epic, whose gentle acoustic intro is in stark contrast with the following segments. The murky riffs that follow are backed by some faint, high pitched notes that sound "broken" (one of the band's trademarks), whereas the thrilling keyboard featured towards the end creates an uneasy vibe. Think of a nice sunset transiting into a chill, stormy night. As a result, 'Volllast' is one of Rotor's hardest hitting tracks so far. Eastern-oriented grooves are found on the more familiar 'Oktagon', mashed with the same, aforementioned approach, creating one weird yet very enjoyable song. The bouncing drums are a focal point, while the rest of the instruments are intertwining a multitude of carefully arranged progressions. On the other hand, 'Fette Kette' and 'Herrengedeck' are two straightforward rockers that bring back the original, punchy sound of the previous LP. The fuzzy, robotic riffs are in full action, now even more powerful with an added player to the fold.
5 is an album for everyone who lost interest in stoner rock. It shows there are bands who still craft fresh music within that sea of average acts. Rotor have always let their tracks speak for themselves and after a long absence, we have received one of their most consistent albums, if not the best yet.
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