Label: Stickman Records
Genre: Heavy Psych Rock
Release Date EU: September 2nd, 2022
Tracklist:
Regenerator
Mercury
Hours
Interlude
Mammoth
Avalon
Firmament
Regenerator’ is the fifth album of the Rochester, New York-based King Buffalo. At the same time, the album closes the pandemic trilogy which started in May 2021 with ‘The Burden of Relentlessness’. ‘Acheron’ followed a few months later, while there are another seven songs that complete this cycle.
‘Regenerator’ starts with the title track, which has already a lot to offer with its length of nine minutes. The peaceful and rather spacey beginning puts the listener in the respective mood. Slowly guitar and drums join the overall sound. The song grows with each of the nine minutes and becomes an ingeniously staged starting point for this album. What counts here are the big arcs of sound, which are accountable for the atmosphere of the song.
However, King Buffalo does not only indulge in the sprawling sounds with great effect. The guys have ‘Hours’ also a track on the album which shows that stoner rock is one of the influences of the band. With hypnotic vehemence, the trio celebrates a psychedelic buzzing sound that draws you in.
‘Interlude’ is exactly what the title promises. It is an almost three-minute interlude that is the bridge to ‘Mammoth’. With the latter song, the band shows another layer of their sound. Especially in the first half of the song, a rock vibe dominates, acting as a common thread throughout the song, even if the second half blasts more powerfully out of the speakers.
‘Avalon’, on the other hand, is an almost lighthearted Song that impresses with a certain simplicity before the heavy guitars also come to the fore here towards the end. A kind of lightness can not be denied in the song.
‘Firmament’ is the final track on ‘Regenerator’ and represents, like the opener, a nine-minute epic. In a way, the song sums up the complete cycle and is one of the top songs King Buffalo has ever released. Especially the droning guitars in the middle section are a treat in themselves.
‘Regenerator’ is a worthy finale of a cycle that began at a time when no one knew how the music industry would continue to evolve. What remains from this time is, in the case of King Buffalo, excellently made music that in the meantime can be enjoyed live again.
Written by: Markus Wiedenmann
Rating 8/10
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