ALBUM REVIEW: Palm Reader – High Desert Queen
HIGH DESERT QUEEN released their debut Secrets Of The Black Moon on Ripple in 2021 and instantly established themselves as ones to watch, thanks in part to their energetic live shows and blend of blues-infused doom and modern heavy rock. That first record was big on riffs and even bigger on choruses and saw the band picking up a number of big live dates throughout 2022, supporting desert rock royalty like SASQUATCH and FATSO JETSON and appearing at both Berlin and London Desertfests. Palm Reader sees the band building on that solid foundation, honing their sound further in the desert rock and stoner metal directions while eschewing some of the bluesier, doomier elements of the first record. The result is an uplifting ‘beer and weed’ album which doesn’t exactly revolutionise the genre but has a great time doing what it’s doing.
Opener Ancient Aliens sees the band come out all guns blazing, a colossal groove-heavy riff propelling the song into a massive chorus led by Ryan Garney‘s powerful vocal performance which brings to mind MONSTER MAGNET legend Dave Wyndorf here. Second track Death Perception takes an interesting turn with guest vocalist Emma Näslund picking up lead vocal duties, adding an ethereal BJÖRK-esque angle to the driving desert rock that powers along underneath it. The band then return to the more epic, psychedelic sound that typified their debut album with nine-minute monster Head Honcho, the ripping leads of guitarist Rusty Miller taking you off into the atmosphere before the vocal hook “I gave you fair warning!” sends you into another galaxy entirely.
Following that, the title track – with its funkier wah-led guitar and sixteen-beat drum patterns – is a bit of a letdown if anything and feels a little more jammed and derivative than what’s gone before. It’s not a bad song but after the excellent opening trio it definitely leaves less of an impression. Time Waster puts us back on track though with a huge fuzzy groove underpinned by some impressive work from the band’s excellent rhythm section (drummer Phil Hook and bassist Morgan Miller) who play a blinder throughout.
The more expansive stuff here waits until the final two tracks. Solar Rain in particular explores a softer, more melancholic sound in its verses before transforming into huge choruses that beat you around the head, guitar and vocal harmonies adding something a little extra (which, in hindsight, would have been welcome elsewhere on the album too). The four-minute doom-fest at the end caps it off nicely too with another nod to the band’s roots. Sonically, Palm Reader really hits the mark, with enough rumbling low-end to please the old school fuzzheads while still sounding polished enough to sit comfortably alongside notable recent releases from the likes of SUNDRIFTER. This polish doesn’t detract from the live feel of the record though and if anything only adds to the whole epic experience.
HIGH DESERT QUEEN have produced an excellent sophomore effort, seeing the band moving on from their debut with a great set of songs without losing sight of what brought that first album to the world’s attention. Reminiscent in parts of MONSTER MAGNET in their stoner metal Powertrip pomp, this will appeal equally to fans of modern desert and classic hard rock(s) and should see the band deservedly stepping up to the next level.
Rating: 8/10
Palm Reader is set for release on May 31st via Magnetic Eye Records.
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