Album Review: Valley of the Sun – The Blacklight Sessions

Album Review: Valley of the Sun – The Blacklight Sessions

Reviewed by Matthew Williams

My first introduction to Ohio’s Valley of the Sun was in 2019 when I first heard “Old Gods” and I was instantly hooked by their fuzzy guitar sound, stoner rock riffs and low-end bass. Their follow up, “The Chariot” made my Top Ten albums for 2022 and I finally got to see them live in Manchester the following May, cementing my love of their music.

Now signed to Heavy Psych Records, the trio led by founding member Ryan Ferrier (guitar & lead vocals) are back with their sixth album, “The Blacklight Sessions” as they take it back to their roots, with bluesy jams mixing it up with psychedelic musings alongside pounding stoner riffs. With Chris Sweeney on bass and Johnny Kathman on drums, this collection of songs is quintessentially Valley of the Sun and promises to devour all before it.

Opening with “The Whiskey Elf” the band let the music do their talking, with big, bold notes let loose from the start, as their distinctive sound emanates from the speakers. I really enjoy that they start with an instrumental number, because it reminds you of the power they have and your mind, body and soul is fully invested, as it should be. And there’s no let-up, as they rip into the excellent “Low Not Slow” with the unmistakable voice of Ferrier bulldozing over another excellent riff, plus a bit of cowbell appears in the mix. It’s already a song that I don’t get tired of listening to, much like the aforementioned “Old Gods”.

They have come up with a great title for the next track, “The Long Song”, and as it suggests, it’s over ten minutes, opening with a more melancholy, somewhat ponderous opening. But a quarter of the way in, their explosive sound energises the song, with a big riff dominating the middle section. They rhythm will get your head moving, there’s a chugginess to it in the middle that I couldn’t help but smile over as the layered notes detonate all over the instrumental composition. The ten minutes flies by far too quickly but when it’s over, you get another slab of goodness in the shape of “A Greater Meaning”.

This one feels different from the start, shorter, feistier, with a deeper, softer vocal, as they challenge the boundaries of their genre head on. Of course, it changes tempo along the way, but it’s great to see them mix things up and evolve their musical output. “Mountain” is another long track, with a moody start, emphasised by the bassline which builds up from the energy of the drums. Their collective intensity is audible as they deliver another monstrous song that will captivate audiences.

And then there was one, “No Hope” brings up the rear, another heavy, measured track that oozes class from the trio. There’s a burst of noise that roars and deafens on impact, weaved with intricate melodies as the soothing vocal tones of Ferrier fractures the music. It reminds me of the Sum 41 album, “All Killer, No Filler” and that description perfectly summarises what Valley of the Sun have done here.

For all the latest news, reviews, interviews across the heavy metal spectrum follow THE RAZORS’S EDGE on facebook, twitter and instagram.