BRANT BJORK
Mankind Woman
2018, Heavy Psych Sounds
Stoner metal/rock is generally not an area of metal-land that I frequent. On the whole, I simply do not get it. Microcosmically, of course, I am aware of it and even enjoy the slow burn sounds from time to time but the fuzzy drone-iness of it all leaves me mostly in a state of take it or leave it. When the opportunity presented itself to review the new opus from Brant Bjork I figured why not, you’ll never hear all the music in the world so may as well try something new.
Bjork is basically a living myth at this point in time, with an extensive discography under his own name. I’ve never heard any of them. The style exhibited here is apparently known as “desert rock” and the closest my brain gets to that is Lonely Kamel, who I quite enjoy. Mankind Woman is, presumably, indicative of the rest of the catalogue and on a few spins both as background music and as a serious endeavor I, man, I dig it but I really don’t understand it.
Comprised of a fair bit of fuzz and some sweet bends, never speeding over a very well informed classic rock base, Mankind Woman is a bluesy, boozy, fun ride of a time that will surely resin-ate with the listener. Vocals are delivered in a soft spoken style and while not really sung certainly contain a lyric quality to them. To me, the whole thing sounds like a throwback to a style that’s not quite in the popular lexicon and that is absolutely fine. I just have no idea what the style is outside of to say it’s classic and timeless rock and roll.
Lyrically, Brant Bjork appears to wander with no clear correlation from one song to the next but make no mistake - each song is its own short story and that is, frankly, sorely lacking in a lot of rock music today. The stories are buttressed by the slung low deliberate electric guitar fogginess at every turn, you can almost feel the warmth of the tube amp as the sweet licks pull you under.
As a metal album, strictly speaking, no. Mankind Woman is a great rock album. Just close your eyes and wait for it to hit. If you listen with friends, I promise head nods and that silly looking grin because the riffs are so sweet, my dudes. Hell, that will happen even if you’re just indulging alone.
3.5 Out Of 5.0
