Suncraft Stir Up a Riffstorm on ‘Flat Earth Rider’
Norway has been springing to life with up-beat, sunny stoner rock in recent years. Some have argued we just dispense with the “stoner” label and banner this sound under the well-established umbrella of “hard rock,” and I don’t have a problem with that in principle. When you hear a band like SUNCRAFT do their thing, there’s no denying that their roots rest deep beneath the soil of the heavy underground, with the influence of fuzzy, downtuned bands of yesteryear evident as a striking new voice arises from the smokey haze of pandemic.
There’s been no small buzz around Suncraft’s new album, ‘Flat Earth Rider’ (2021), with at least three singles from the six-track spin already circulating. Each demonstrates the musical proclivities of the Oslo band, which often blur the lines between rock and heavy metal, with both progressive and pop sensibilities surfacing at the most unexpected moments, I imagine the identity of this four-man crew that will only continue to evolve into greater heights beyond this launch.
“Lingo Hive Mind” (which Doomed & Stoned gives you a first-listen to now) comes with a boisterous start that threw me right into the mosh of the beat, like some hapless soul swept away by the ocean’s current. It’s an agressive, yet quite jazzy start to the song. This is followed in quick succession by verses from frontman/bassist Rasmus Skage Jensen, whose vocals are both clean and gruff as the humour insists.
A short psychedelic interlude waterlogs the noggin mid-way, but not long enough to disarm us from the revelrous romp that is to follow (shades of Orange Goblin, as my fellow blogger JJ at The Obelisk has also observed). The wicked guitar tone between twin axemen Sigurd Grøtan and Vebjørn Rindal Krogstad really comes into its own as the song bounces along. Great drumming on the part of Tobias Paulsen, as well. The song comes to a finish with a brief, but cacophonous conclusion, that recalls the opening gambol.
It’s a fine introduction to what you’ll encounter on Flat Earth Rider, though the band has much more range for the listener to discover in the tracks that precede and follow “Lingo Hive Mind” (if you haven’t heard it already, prior single “Commie Cannibals” is must-hear Suncraft fare – not to mention the album’s stunning finisher, “Bridges To Nowhere”).
Reached for comment, frontman Rasmus tells Doomed & Stoned:
The song is, in my mind, about how language affects how we experience feelings. So the song asks what happens to a feeling that there is no word for. The song embraces the answer that it simply disappears, devoting itself to language.
Look for Flat Earth Rider out on All Good Clean Records, releasing August 6th (pre-order here). A vibrant and badass record to accompany you in your summer (road) tripping adventures, for sure! (p.s. The first time I heard it, I listened three times through, so yeah, it’s good.)
Give ear…
SOME BUZZ
If you need a fix of riveting riffs, thumping grooves, luscious melodies and heavy, stoner-inspired rock n’ roll: Suncraft is just what you’re looking for. Let this quartet from the underground scene of Oslo, Norway seduce you. Let them bring you into their solipsistic realm of gloom – where the songs are playfully constructed and lyrically explore themes of greed and conspiracy.
Since late 2017, Suncraft have played their fair share of club shows in the nooks and crannies of Norway, honing the craft of playing explosively energetic concerts. After having released their 2019 EP, 'Saigon,’ the live-performances abruptly ended in March, 2020. Turning the blow of the pandemic into a positive, the boys put all their efforts into writing their debut album, 'Flat Earth Rider’ (2021), which is now set for release in the summer. As soon as the world is safe enough, Suncraft will hit the road again and bring their unique flavour of rock n’ roll to a growing audience.
'Flat Earth Rider’ is Suncraft’s debut album, written and recorded during 2020. The album is a collection of six unique tracks that show off the band’s wide array of songwriting prowess. They draw from diverse rock n’ roll influences, from the classic rock-inspired riff of the titular track, to the doomy chorus of “Commie Cannibals,” the spaced-out vocals on “Adaptation,” and the blast beat-induced ten-minute closing track “Bridges to Nowhere.” This album is filled to the brim with genre-breaking tricks-up-the-sleeve.
Lyrically, the album ponders on themes of greed, alienation, loneliness, and spirituality, reflecting upon conundrums of contemporary life. One highlight in particular would be the song “Flat Earth Rider,” which paints a tragicomic picture of an imagined flat earther’s search for truth and meaning.
The album was live recorded with the full band, adding solos, vocals, and extra goodies afterwards. This adds a liveliness to the flow of the songs and an organic feel. Produced, mixed, and mastered by Ruben Willem, who has recorded Norwegian hard rock heavy hitters such as The Good The Bad and The Zugly, Okkultokrati, and Djevel, the production is gnarly and lush as ever.