Gorilla Pulp is psych, stoner and hard rock band from Italy that was formed in 2014. The band reportedly draws from a number of different influences from the 1970s, which is already making me more excited to give them a listen, as I really enjoy the hard rock/stoner rock groups like Killer Boogie that also incorporate their influences from the 1970s in their sound. This album, Peyote Queen (2016), is the groups first full-length album, which is categorized as rock, doom, heavy blues, stoner rock, and heavy stoner rock on the album’s Bandcamp page. I’m pretty stoked to give this album a listen, so with that said, I’m going to jump on into the music.
“Die of Thirst” starts out with some mellow, low electric guitars with a bit of fuzz that gradually get the song moving, and in the intro there’s almost what sounds to be a heavily processed didgeridoo for a moment. Oh wow, the rest of the instrumentation melts in really nicely, and the track breaks through a heavier movement with some super flavorful riffing. Oh wow, I really dig this track, and I’m excited to hear more.
“Caveman” gets started with some heavy hard rock riffing that nearly verges on metal, and is set to a super sturdy beat. Honestly, I’m reminded a lot of White Zombie in this track in multiple ways, but especially in the vocals. I wow, I really dig the sweetness of the chorus in this track, which still stays in line with the heaviness of the track really nicely. Holy smokes, the track breaks into a huge, heavy jam that has absolutely pulled me further into the music, and further onto the edge of my seat. I’m sort of reminded a bit of Psychedelic Witchcraft in the outro jam of the song. Great track.
“Magic Mushroom” gets started with some super groovy drums, and after an extended drum intro of sorts the guitars start riffing with some seriously flavorful, heavy, and distorted flavors. Wow, I’m really digging this track, and especially the guitar work, which takes me back to my heavy metal/hard rock listening days when I was younger. Holy smokes, the tune mellows out a ton into some sort of relaxed, psychedelic movement, as the guitars gradually drip into the soundscape while a low, slow bass line alongside some sparse cymbals keep the rhythm section moving along. Oh wow, the track seems to slowly be building back up. Oh wow, the track lands back at the main chorus of the track right as it comes to a close.
“Peyote Queen” gets started right away with some fast, heavy, and melodic playing from the guitars, set to a strong, stoner rock beat that I’m really digging. Holy smokes, the guitar work in these tracks so far has been awesome; one of the guitars just launched into a super heavy blues/hard rock lick and pulled me closer to the edge of my seat. I think I’ve had to turn up the music at least twice during this listening experience. Holy smokes, the track has mellowed out, and sounds like it’s building right back up to launch into an even heavier riffing movement. The music flows and evolves so well and so often that it nearly verges on a sort of heavy psychedelic prog rock. Wow, great track.
“Witch Boogie” gets grooving with some palm-muted, fuzzy guitar notes, which almost have a sort of 12-bar blues sort of feel to them. Oh wow, the rest of the instruments gradually come in and then finally break through to a super groovy, heavy rock/stoner rock/doom metal movement, and I’m really digging the sound. Honestly, the guitar work reminds me a ton of the guitarists from Avenged Sevenfold, as they really harmonize extremely well with each other. Wow, awesome track.
“Mirage of India” slowly fades in with some melty guitar on top of some droning tones, producing a sort of psychedelic raga sound. Oh wow, it sounds like they incorporated some sitar in the track as well. Super sweet track.
“Road to the Temple” gets grooving right out of the gate with some extremely quick and heavy riffing from everybody in the band. Oh wow, I really dig the sound of the drums and the bass alone with a bit of feedback from the guitars to accentuate the movement. Holy smokes, the track breaks through a massive-sounding, very melodic movement that has a sort of hypnotizing feel that I’m really digging. Oh wow, the riffing takes a sort of dark turn, which is moved along by some heavy, psychedelic riffing from the guitars. Holy smokes, the track breaks through to a super flavorful jam that sounds like Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode” played by a doom metal band. Wow, great track.
“Ram’s Head” gets started with a distorted guitar playing a sort of hypnotic, repetitive riff with the amp turned up to an 11, and soon the rest of the band joins in and launches the track into a sort of dark, heavy, riff-laden movement that reminds me of hard rock bands like Black Sabbath circa 1975. Oh wow, the track becomes both dark and spacious as the strumming of the guitars and the beat of the drums begin to span multiple measures. Holy smokes, a guitar gradually comes soloing in with some super groovy heavy psych and hard rock flavors that has pulled me even further into the music. Oh wow, the band has drops right back into the main chorus for the outro. Great track.
Oh wow, “Electric Woman” gets started with a guitar played through a talk box, and has absolutely hooked me in for the track. Holy smokes, the track has launched into this super heavy blues and heavy psych movement, and has somehow pulled me further into the listening experience. Oh wow, the track breaks through to what seems to be some sort of melodic chorus, and then mellows back into what sounds like a classic blues riff that slowly builds back up. Wow, I’m really digging this track a ton. Holy smokes, the harmonization of the guitars is continually pulling me further into the listening experience. Oh wow, the talk box comes back into these heavy riffs and jams and brings about some psychedelic flavors into this track that I’m really digging. I really dig the fade out of the song as well as the album comes to a close. Wow, great track, and an awesome way to finish the listening experience.
Holy smokes, this album is great. I’m already looking up to see if the vinyl is available. I was reminded of a bunch of different groups throughout the listening experience, ranging from 1970s hard rock like Black Sabbath, to more modern groups including White Zombie, Avenged Sevenfold, and Five Finger Death Punch, as well as Killer Boogie and Psychedelic Witchcraft. If you’re into heavy psych sounds, super flavorful and melodic guitar work, and a range of hard rock flavors, then you might want to consider checking out this album. If you do decide to give this album a listen, I sincerely hope that you enjoy the listening experience at least as much as I did.
-A