The Nashville-based quartet's fourth studio long-player, and second for
New West Records
,
Sleeping Through the War
is
All Them Witches
' most fully realized set to date, a sprawling yet remarkably focused effort that takes their exploratory, often spliced-together work ethic in a more stridently song-oriented direction. That's not to say that the band has abandoned the bluesy, promethean space rock of prior outings -- you can practically smell the smoke wafting into the control room during the hypnotic "Alabaster" and the rootsy, nearly ten-minute closer, "Internet" -- but less proto-metal offerings like "Don't Bring Me Coffee" and "Bruce Lee" evoke
Queens of the Stone Age
far more than they do
Hawkwind
. There's some significant sonic heft at play here as well, thanks in part to the presence of Grammy Award-winning producer
Dave Cobb
(
Sturgill Simpson
Shooter Jennings
Jason Isbell
), who provides ample vistas for the band to probe, but is quick to administer a bit of contrast when things get a little too far out.
is at its best when it strikes a balance between atmosphere and songcraft, which it does to great effect on the beguiling opener, "Bulls." Anchored by a descending,
OK Computer
-era
Radiohead
-worthy melody and propelled to greatness by a thunderous stoner metal chorus that deftly utilizes the ghostly voices of notable Music City sirens
Caitlin Rose
Tristen
, and
Erin Rae
, it makes for an audacious opening volley. Thankfully, the rest of the album follows suit. ~ James Christopher Monger