Greenleaf – ‘The Head And The Habit’

Stoner/Psych

Magnetic Eye Records

Release Date – June 21st 2024

Review By Smudge Smith

Greenleaf were originally a side project formed by Dozer guitarist Tommi Holappa. Tommi roped in pals from Truckfighters, Lowrider and Demon Cleaner but they came and went and Tommi wanted more of a settled band line-up over the years. Looks like he has achieved that with this group. Tommi providing the huge 70’s inspired riffage, drummer Sebastian Olsson and bass player Hans Frohlich providing some serious groove and the classically trained soulful pipes of Arvid Hallagard formerly of Giant Space Cruiser.

Olsson rattles out a steady pattern as Holappa grinds out a riff on opener ‘Breathe, Breathe Out’ then Frohlich enters the fray, and they stamp on the gain pedals to one big noise allowing Hallagard to croon over the top. This is proper catchy with a dark melody and a smooth masculine delivery from Hallagard. ‘Avalanche’ is a bit more traditional classic rock but with a real tribal pattern from Olsson and a reverb heavy vocal then ‘Different Horse’ brings some boogie. Olsson really uses all of his kit on ‘A Wolf In My Head’ and Holappa definitely has the gift of the riff as this goes full on psych and Hallagard shows his range. ‘That Obsidian Grin’ brings some Fleetwood Mac blues for just under two minutes and man that Hallagard gives it large.

‘The Sirens Sound’ comes back to some dark Doors like rock n roll before the funky ‘Oh Dandelion’ comes straight from the groin. All of the above goes into the eight minutes plus epic of ‘The Tricking Tree’ before the bluesy psych of ‘An Alabastrine Smile’ leaves you feeling all warm and fuzzy and ultimately satisfied.

Crikey this is good. Chock full of so many 70’s inspired grooves and riffs you can feel the cheese cloth and smell the ‘Hai Karate’ seeping through the speakers. Time to open a Watney’s party seven and crank this up. This is the sound of freedom – freedom of thought, freedom of art and freedom to be what you want to be, no compromise.

9/10

Band –

Arvid Hallagard – Vocals

Tommi Holappa – Guitar

Hans Frohlich – Bass

Sebastian Olsson – Drums

Track List –

1 – Breathe, Breathe Out

2 – Avalanche

3 – Different Horses

4 – A Wolf In My Mind

5 – That Obsidian Grin

6 – The Sirens Sound

7 – Oh Dandelion

8 – The Tricking Tree

9 – An Alabastrine Smile