Scott "Wino" Weinrich, is unquestionably one of the biggest legends in underground heavy metal. Turning fifty later this year, the man is in his Indian summer, currently on an acoustic tour of the U.S with a fellow acolyte of uncompromising heavy music, Scott Kelly. It's beginning to seem a little clichéd for an aging metal frontman to pick up an acoustic and calm down, but for Wino it has no feel of contrivement - just check out some of the tracks off Adrift, it's nothing less than stunning. Some have labelled this as a rebirth for the doom metal godfather, but the truth is that he has never died, his creative flame hasn't even flickered. Over thirty years of stunning songwriting in a variety of bands, each with their own idiosyncratic nature, and with an intransigent attitude to music that has seen him garner tonnes of respect from his peers, Wino has burnt a mark on heavy music that few others can claim to have done. I thought this is as good time as any to reflect on his career and have a look at one of his albums.
Anyone sad about the demise of the excellent Spirit Caravan in 2002 didn't have long to wallow, as Wino wasted no time in assembling a new band the same year, by the name of The Hidden Hand. The first two albums are damn hard to get hold of, so I had to settle for the band's final effort, The Resurrection Of Whiskey Foote. The album opens with the short but sweet Purple Neon Dream, with everything you'd expect from a Wino encarnation, with his trademark fuzzy guitar tone and soulful vocals, yet still sounding incredibly fresh and exciting. Aside from a few less-than-excellent tracks, the rest of the album is filled with raw, melodic and soulful post-doom/stoner rock. The highlight has to be the albums closer, Slow Rain. Co-vocalist and bassist Bruce Falkinburg takes the mic. for the first half, a psychadelic sludgy affair, before an awesome instrumental jam mid-song is concluded by Wino's vocals entering, sounding incredibly powerful and commanding, his lyrics as inspiring and poetic as ever.
People will point to the anthemic Born Too Late and Wino's work with The Obsessed as career highlights, but little of the man's output can be considered weak. This is another excellent chapter in Wino's career, and a great starting point for first time listeners.
7.5/10
Highlights : "Purple Neon Dream", "The Lesson", "Slow Rain"
See also - Spirit Caravan, Saint Vitus, Black Sabbath, Sleep, Clutch, Down.
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