Brazilian heavy rockers Stone House on Fire will release their third full-length, Time is a Razor, on Jan. 28 through Electric Valley Records. The classic-minded four-piece issued their Neverending Cycle (discussed here) album late in 2016 though Electric Valley and an assortment of other labels, and they answer back these years later with six new tracks for an utterly manageable, solidly executed, vibe-ready 33-minute run.

Things start off like the group — guitarists Kleber Mariano (also vocals) and Marcus Oliveira, bassist/vocalist Leonardo Moore and drummer Andre Leal (who also sat in with Gods & Punks) — caught a mean case of Graveyard‘s Hisingen Blues on the boogie-laced opener “Bitter Times” and the wah-informed “Despite,” but as side A wraps with the longer, percussion-inclusive jam in “Waterfall,” deftly bringing back the verse in its second half and ending in a tripped-out hypnosis of psychedelic spaciousness, still underlined by that fluid rhythm amid some thicker riffing, it’s clear that there’s more going on here that neo-vintage worship or a fuzzy boogie-down. Although, frankly, if Stone House on Fire wanted to throw together about half an hour of shuffle like on “Bitter Times,” I doubt they’d meet much argument.

“Uzumaki” reminds of earlier Masters of Reality in its chorus, “You shouldn’t harm the crows/’Cause crows never forget,” but the song surges forward on a winding course of lead guitar and fuzzy push, less retro-minded than either “Bitter Times” or “Despite,” but thoroughly grooving just the same, and it brings about “White Canvas,” which merges heavy blues and more atmospheric breadth, taking an earlier boogie — I’m not sure if that’s Mariano or Moore on vocals, but they’ve got Joakim Nilsson just about nailed — and using it as a departure point for a mellow, flute-laced stretch of Latin percussion and guitar exploration before they eventually crash back into the verse for the last third of the song. They save going-out-and-no-return for closer “The Weight,” as one might expect, but offer dynamic volume shifts in between, sounding organic all the while in their trades and arrangement.

To bottom-line it for you, it’s not a hard record to dig. Given the very nature of their aesthetic, one wouldn’t call what Stone House on Fire are doing revolutionary, but in a style where chops and chemistry are the foundation — you can’t groove if you can’t groove — they groove. The themes in the lyrics might not exactly be uplifting, which is fair, considering, but it’s the kind of album you’re gonna want to be friends with, and fortunately also the kind that makes friends easily.

Put on your dancing shoes:

Stone House on Fire on Time is a Razor:

“‘Time is a Razor’ goes deeper into darker waters: a reflection of what we have seen these times that really have bloomed into music, a taste of the late ’60s and ’70s sounds, heavier bluesy influences, and always flirting with the unusual to achieve the unique, the exciting, the trippy. It’s an invitation to a closed eye dive and let yourself sink into an unforgettable experience.”

Electric Valley Records will release the upcoming STONE HOUSE ON FIRE album, Time is a Razor, on 28 January 2022. Stone House on Fire can be best described as a Brazilian late ’60s/ early ’70s throwback rock band with unique contemporary twists. The group creates its own identity by mixing heavy psychedelic elements, Latin spices with classic fuzzy guitars, some blues, and live jam performances.

An active live band that relies heavily on jams and experimentation, Stone House on Fire has toured across Brazil with several psychedelic/doom bands. They frequently played gigs arranged by Abraxas (Brazil’s biggest label on the scene), including appearances on Abraxas Festivals as a supporting act for The Flying Eyes and Mars Red Sky. During their European tour, they shared the stage with Samavayo and Atavismo, and played venues in Switzerland, Germany, France, and the Czech Republic.

Produced by Stone House on Fire.
Recorded at Estúdio Jukebox
Mixed and Mastered by Andre Leal and Kleber Mariano.
All songs written, arranged, performed and produced by Stone House on Fire.
Percussion on “Waterfall” Marian Sarine.
Percussion on “Waterfall” and special fx on “White Canvas” by Leandro Tolen.
Artwork by Dovglas Leal.

Available Formats:
– 250x LTD White Vinyl
– 220x Side A/B Red/Blue Vinyl
– 30x Ultra LTD “Razor Edition”
– Digital

Lineup:
Kleber Mariano – Guitar/Vocals
Marcus Oliveira – Guitars
Leonardo Moore – Bass/Vocals
Andre Leal – Drums

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Tags: Brazil, Electric Valley Records, Rio de Janeiro, Stone House on Fire, Stone House on Fire Time is a Razor, Time is a Razor, Volta Redonda

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 26th, 2022 at 7:35 am and is filed under audiObelisk, Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.