WhiteNails

First Trip – CD // DD

Magnetic Eye Records – Releases May 26, 2017

Reviewed by Ric “Suisyko” Dorr

Formed – 2016

Location – Quebec City, Quebec, Canada

Members – Darcy – Vocal, Danahé – Guitar, Taylor – Guitar, JP – Bass, Vince – Keys, Maxx – Drums

Self described as “Six dudes with an appetite for LOUD, HEAVY rock-n-roll” that were brought together by a mutual love for BLACK SABBATH. Labeled as a stoner rock band, they list as influenced by the sounds of PENTAGRAM, Black Sabbath and KYUSS, WhiteNails add an edge of a psychedelic visual touch to their performances and we end up with the first offering in the form of the EP  ‘First Trip’.

Citing an evening of “…a few beers and shots of whiskey”,  they decided they needed to throw on the guitars and see what kind of noise would come forth. End result is eight songs clocking in just over 41 minutes and is filled with all of the trappings and then some of the kind of music that you HAVE to crank up and raise your ‘favorite beverage’ to and just MOVE. Twin guitars, thick-sliced bass line, heavy-handed drummer with enough splash to soak you through and a vocal range from punk-screams to heart-ripped vibrato, WhiteNails has brought it all to the table with this release. From the first pick slide of ‘Shanghaied’, the tone is set and the pace is rolling as you are the “Next in line…” The air gets darker as the guitar gets even thicker, screaming tortured wails and screams over hyper fuzzed chords catching in the sudden fade that runs straight into a VERY Sabbath sounding progression of palm-muting accented by that hauntingly smoked-up and hazy soloing that makes up the first minute and a half of ‘Done And Gone’ that chugs along like a train. ‘Dead In Time’ is full-on power-sludge glory featuring guest Gab Shonk and has that triple-roll tempo that forces you to keep up and then gets as smoke-filled just past midpoint again and for the last section, back to full slam…

‘In My Blood’ comes out faster and has that KYUSS vibe for real giving a nod to their mentioned influences where ‘Damn Judas’ is more of a power anthem hitting with full presence of attitude and staggered guitar notes in your face. ‘Silver Linings’ is slower in entry but there is zero shortage of power chords here. ‘Brazen Bull’ begins with a fast drum roll and jumps into more of the tortured guitar lines that take hold and don’t let go. This gets us to my personal favorite ‘The Crooked Lake’ . This track is different from the rest yet shows a complete summation of the first seven tracks brought into this over seven-minute opus. Slow fade in, each musician’s presence viable in the aggregate perfection that is this entire composition. One of those that grabbed me in my chest and I didn’t want it to let go, even as the end hit. I would hope this is one of their live signature songs and could EASILY end up being one of those 20 minute encore songs… and not ONE person would want it any other way.

For a first outing, all I can say is HOLY SHIT!! If this is any kind of signification of what is to come from these guys, HELL yes, bring it!! Get this one when out comes out and support them live if you get the chance and especially keep this one LOUD!!