John GarciaJohn Garcia and The Band Of Gold

The Southern Californian wilderness has spawned some enigmatic rock stars none other than the man who pioneered desert rock in the late 80’s, John Garcia.

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The ex Kyuss frontman has gone through many guises through his career including fronting Unida, Hermano, Vista Chino and now playing music under his own name alongside The Band of Gold. This desert outfit will be pounding listeners with some new gritty and dirty riffing on their self-titled debut album, dropping like cool rain on scorching sands in the New Year. Producer Chris Goss who has a solid history working on Kyuss and Queens of the Stone Age projects was responsible for making the album sound like the wild animal it is.

John Garcia’s songwriting lifts you up whilst making you feel like you’re running from a sandstorm or a venomous snake.

The opening song Space Vato is a psychedelic trip with a heavy back beat, it’s as an enticing opener as you could imagine on any surfing video full of kaleidoscope images and it perfectly bookends with the closing song Softer Side.

The other tracks however cater to more extreme groove oriented guitar riffing and some terrific howling vocals. There are even contemporary rock traits with a song like Chicken Delight that would easily appeal to Royal Blood fans and riffs that would inspire visions of The Sword or Red Fang.

Kyuss devotees would also enjoy this album; John Garcia’s songwriting lifts you up whilst making you feel like you’re running from a sandstorm or a venomous snake. If you’re not familiar with the desert rock sound this album could be your introduction to a world of guitar distortion that is as barbed as spiky cactuses and dreamy, entrancing soundscapes that are otherworldly.

STANDOUT TRACKS: Jim’s Whiskers, Popcorn (Hit Me When You Can), Don’t Even Think About it.
STICK THIS NEXT TO: Royal Blood, Queens of the Stone Age, The Sword.