When comparing Youngblood Supercult’s second full-length album to their 2014 debut, it’s hard to believe that they’re both from the same band. Switching out lead singers is bound to make some changes, but High Plains showcases a complete overhaul to their songwriting approach. Thankfully, the versatility of blues rock allows the group to roll with the stylistic shift quite nicely.
While Season of the Witch had a swagger that recalled Clutch at times, High Plains sounds more like something Wino would put out with The Obsessed or Spirit Caravan. There’s a laid back desert rock vibe that recalls The Church Within and the songs appear to have been written in a similarly spontaneous, jam-oriented approach.
Fortunately, Youngblood Supercult does offer a few tweaks to this formula. In contrast to the driving biker rock that Wino exudes through his various projects, High Plains has a more restrained vibe. The same can be said for the new vocalist, whose voice reminds one of John Garcia of Kyuss with shades of Jerry Cantrell. There are times where he yields to the guitar work but doesn’t seem to be overwhelmed by any means.
Youngblood Supercult’s second album pulls from familiar stoner/blues rock influences but uses them in uncommon ways. It has plenty of riffs that demand to be played when driving through the desert but its scaled back attitude makes it more mellow than most of the releases by their peers. Those unfamiliar with the debut may find this to be an even more valid entry point though it’d be interesting to see if their two styles could be intertwined on future efforts…
Highlights:
“Monolith”
“Before the Dawn”
“Mind Control”
“Hell Hath No Fury”
“Forefather”
