CD REVIEW: SPIRIT KNIFE by Jeremy Irons & The Ratgang Malibus

SPIRIT KNIFE 
by Jeremy Irons & The Ratgang Malibus
(Small Stone Records)

Imagine, if you will, Jeff Buckley jamming with Hawkwind and you'll have a fair gist of the fantastic voyage that awaits your senses of what Jeremy Irons & The Ratgang Malibus the Stoner Rock band from Stockholm, Sweden are all about. Karl Apelmo: Vocals/Guitars, Micke Pettersson: Guitars Viktor Källgren: Bass and Henke Persson: Drums. The band's sophomore release, 'Spirit Knife' contains 8 cuts, and has a very heavy psychedelic and addictive drone sound. Of the 8 tracks I particularly enjoyed the opening epic, "Fog By The Steep", "Wind Seized" and "Sworn Collision" (probably my favorite track on the album), and "Point Growth". The album has a lot of stylistic diversity and brings to mind more than a couple of genres. While it is tempting to draw comparisons to other bands both contemporary and past I think Jeremy Irons & The Ratgang Malibus does a great service to music in general by allowing disparate elements to integrate into a seamless and cohesive whole. It may take a little time for the album to sink in and grow on you, but once it does it quickly becomes addictive. Jeremy Irons & The Ratgang Malibus are a big-time stoner rock band with class and balls that references the glory of the past and blasts an unabashed rocket into the future. A bluesy head-banger’s dream haze. 'Spirit Knife' will put your under the spell. - Highly Recommended
Tony @ The Dedicated Rocker Society/All Access Magazine