Ever since the 90s, there has been a slow but definite increase of stoner acts that have come out of the woodwork from all across the globe. Be it in a pure form, mixed with grunge rock, or combined with sludge metal it has left an undeniable mark upon the world of heavy music, and such a mark still resonates today with bands like The Blacktones. Bringing a solid edge to the table along with tasty groove, The Blacktones’ latest record is a solid record made with real taste.

Right from that incredibly odd cover art, you know you’re not in for some casual rock or some collection of riffs that are thrown together in a half-assed fashion. “The Day We Shut Down the Sun” from start to finish is a very good album to represent what it means to create a record that fuses together sludge and stoner elements into a metal format that isn’t only incredibly organic but its diverse to boot. The Blacktones have a clear understanding of what they’re going for and how to execute it with swift motion, and the execution couldn’t be more spot-on as we’re granted a listen that feels like it’s straight out of the 90s. If the fourteen tracks don’t tickle your fancy then maybe the fact that The Blacktones never sticks to the same exact sound from one track to the next as “The Day We Shut Down the Sun” has a great amount of variety that can warrant several more listens without you feeling like you’re listening to the same fucking song over and over again on repeat. That’s something that many bands forget all too often, but The Blacktones deal with it with ease to make the whole album a very interesting spin that gives you plenty of what the genre overall can give you.

While this isn’t what I’d call a great step for the genre or a terrific callback, there’s no denying that The Blacktones did a very exceptional job here. “The Day We Shut Down the Sun” is something that needs way more than a single spin to really get a grasp of, and I think all good records demand such a thing. But if there’s anything to take away from this piece, it’s that The Blacktones aren’t to be underestimated and they should have a close eye kept on them in the future.

LISTEN to “The Day We Shut Down the Sun” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE The Blacktones on Facebook here.

FOLLOW The Blacktones on Twitter: @BlacktonesBand