Again, a band mixing styles. Yes, even on United Kingdom, the new trends of Metal are present, and some of the royal sons are doing a mix between some Stoner Rock elements with Progressive Metal. This is what the quintet STRAUSS is doing, now on their second EP, "Luia".

The fusion of the style is good, the band is really doing a very fine work in terms of the instrumental (all the five members are very good in their musical instruments), with fine vocals (being aggressive with normal tunes), good guitars (both on riffs and solos, these guys are pretty creative), bass and drums forming a solid and powerful rhythmic basis, having chosen wisely the instruments' tunes, but something is missing on their musical work. Something that I just can't describe, but it's not personality (this quality the band has). Maybe their musical needs some improvements, because there's a true deluge of bands that uses Stoner Rock/Metal insight occurring right now in the world. And this means that only the best ones will survive after this trend comes to an end in a near future. And I'm really sorry to say that they cannot survive doing like we hear on this EP.

The sound quality is definitively harsh and raw as Stoner bands usually use on their albums. It's organic and heavy, but having a good clearness that allows us to understand what they are playing and what they want to do with their musical work.

The greater problem can be only one: they're not a bad band at all, but their songs need to be more personalized. They are good, but nothing more than that. And as I said above: in times when a Metal style becomes famous than the others, after is passes, only the best ones will survive.

 Of course they got good results on tracks like "Eclipse" (eight minutes of abrasive riffs and very good vocals, with some somber and introspective moments) and the accessible "2015" (with a fine work on bass and drums). But they need desperately to improve, to evolve into a more suitable insight of their work.

Of course they have potential, their way is right, but needs improvements.<