High Desert Queen – ‘Palm Reader’

Stoner

Magnetic Eye Records

Release Date – May 31st 2024

Review By Smudge

High Desert Queen are a Texan quartet that, once formed, was immediately signed to a record label by the legendary Rob Blasko (Rob Zombie/Zakk Sabbath) for their debut which was released in 2022. Here we have the sophomore which continues the fine work of the debut and shows the band developing after a bout of heavy touring with the likes of Fatso Jetson.

The opener ‘Ancient Aliens’ doesn’t hang about. Guitarist Rusty Miller grinds out the riff and is soon joined by his daughter Morgan on bass and badass drummer Phil Hook who locks in superbly before the masculine roar of Ryan Garney flies over the massive groove. Seriously this is so simple and catchy that you just can’t help moving to it.

What a fabulous way to start! ‘Death Perception’ brings another monumental groove with Morgan hitting those strings hard. The Bjork-like vocals of guest singer Emma Naslund from Guapa open the song and Garney joins her in the chorus. This is proper heavy and rolls into the heavier stomp of ‘Head Honcho’ where Miller opens his bag of riffs, Hook takes great delight in knocking his kit into next week and Garney roars and yells over the top of a steady bassline from Morgan. We go through some motions, different grooves and tempos where Miller peels off some more stunning guitar work then the title track gets funky and gets you moving those hips and Miller gets to abuse his ‘wah-wah’ pedal before we get some proper heavy fuzz on ‘Time Waster’.

It’s a bluesy roll with a reverb-drenched vocal from Garney and another mighty groove from the rhythm section which gets us to ‘Tuesday Night Blues’ and yeah, it’s the real thing. Miller shows a deft touch and again Morgan and Hook have an almost telepathic connection. Garney’s vocal is spoken with his deep Texan drawl to start then they burst open into a massive power blues explosion before easing back on the throttle and back into the original groove. ‘Solar Rain’ brings the psych with Miller’s shimmering guitar and a softer vocal from Garney but standby! After 90 seconds they give it large and you’re brought back to your senses, and that’s how it goes for its full nine minutes.

This is more like it. Big fat grooves, monumental riffs that are hugely distorted, blinding solo’s and fills and roaring vocals with great melodies. What’s not to like? Stoner rock doesn’t get much better than this.

Track List –

1 – Ancient Aliens

2 – Death Perception

3 – Head Honcho

4 – Palm Reader

5 – Time Waster

6 – Tuesday Night Blues

7 – Solar Rain