Stoner Metal/Rock acts have a common feature: even with excellent sound production, the search for their sound expressions is to be handmade, organic and simple as those ones from the past (if the act in question is into a Metal vibe, it’s natural for something based on the first three albums of BLACK SABBATH). And maybe it’s one of the easiest genres to be played alive (due the simple instrumental used on the recordings), and “Palm Readers” is one of the cases when a band has a ‘live feeling’ on its music. Yes, the North American quartet HIGH DESERT QUEEN seems to be a band to be a live act. Casey Johns (sound engineering) and Karl Daniel Lidén (mixing, mastering) worked on the studio, to build a sound quality that would fit on the band’s musical efforts. It’s rough and oppressive, but defined and huge, making the experience of hearing to this album something easy and understandable.

The artwork and design created by PabloRR really matches with the band’s music. These Texans follows a tendency into Stoner Metal that is filled with high energetic expression and with a greasy and dirty appeal, influenced by acts as C.O.C., MONSTER MAGNET, BLACK SABBATH, and with a natural groove inherited of acts as DOWN as well. The music heard is full of greasy melodies and a nasty and charming appeal, and with a thunderous energy that can explode your speakers! In few words, their musical work is really very good.

Organic, acid and oppressive, yet melodic and charming, the seven songs presented by the quartet are something that Stoner Metal fans must heart, especially the intricated and brutal “Ancient Aliens” (very good melodies and charming vocals, with a charming chorus), “Death Perception” (a hypnotic set of guitar riffs and melodic solos following a C.O.C. groove, and what very good female vocals during the introspective moments as well), “Palm Reader” (a thunderous and heavy work on bass guitar and drums can be heard, and the use of wah-wah pedal during the guitar solos improves the Stoner/Groove Metal feeling of the song), and the lysergic voyage offered on “Solar Rain” are the better ones for a first time on the band’s musical work.

If you’re into Stoner Metal in general, “Palm Reader” is one of the albums you were looking for, so praise HIGH DESERT QUEEN and blow your ears out listening to it!