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I\u2019ll be honest.\u00a0 Generally, I hate writing album reviews.\u00a0 I mean, it\u2019s always kind of awkward for me to try and put to words how a particular album makes me feel.\u00a0 Album reviews always seem to come across as someone trying to butter up a band and stroking that ego.\u00a0 Either that or dragging the band\u2019s album through the mud while calling it a heaping pile of shit.\u00a0 Writing a review of an album often is a grueling task, but if the album is excellent, the review seems to write itself, as is the case with Mountain of Sugar<\/strong><\/em>, the latest album by Swedish psych\/blues rockers Heavy Feather<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Heavy Feather\u2019s debut album Debris and Rubble<\/em> was a favorite release of mine, so like with any band, I\u2019m always a bit nervous about how they will follow that one up?\u00a0 Heavy Feather had a lot riding on them.\u00a0 Would they top the debut?\u00a0 Would they come close to touching it?\u00a0 It was a tense moment for me, but I was so excited to hear what was in store.<\/p>\n \u201c30 Days\u201d kicks off the album, and this was such a perfect move.\u00a0 Right out of the gates, this song is a riff-tastic rock n\u2019 blues blast from the past with a modern touch.\u00a0 Lead vocalist Lisa Lystam breaks through with her voice that, to me, has become such a distinct, strong blues voice.\u00a0 The song is high energy, and right away, I was excited, and I couldn\u2019t wait to see what else was to come.<\/p>\n \u201cBright in My Mind\u201d kicks in with a deep, dark bass guitar\/drum groove, which starts off like trafficking down a runway only to take off into the blue.\u00a0 The song bounces back and forth between the sparse intro groove and the intense, hard-hitting chorus.\u00a0 This is a great song, and to be honest, it sounds like something Blues Pills was trying to attempt but never entirely delivered.<\/p>\n \u201cMountain of Sugar\u201d is a hard-hitting head-nodder, making me do that white boy bottom lip bite thing.\u00a0 The music and vocals are so gnarly and full of attitude.\u00a0 It\u2019s hard not to recognize that Lystam\u2019s vocals and lyrics are engaging and, at times, comes across as a femme fatale black widow of sorts.\u00a0 I felt like she was singing directly to me, which at times, I found intimidating.\u00a0 That\u2019s a pretty powerful thing to pull off musically, and Lystam pulls it off with ease.<\/p>\n Lystam & Co. bring it down with \u201cLet it Shine,\u201d which proved to be my favorite song from this collection.\u00a0 Halfway into the album, it was nice to take a breather from all of the high energy, in your face blues rock but it is the album closer \u201cAsking in Need\u201d that was the showstopper for me.\u00a0 This song hit me where it counts, and it was a song that got a few repeat listens.\u00a0 \u201cAsking in Need\u201d could have been one of the best Black Crowes songs never written by the Black Crowes.\u00a0 Its gospel-like vibe and its floating music and vocals are the perfect ending to a roller coaster ride of an album.<\/p>\n Heavy Feather\u2019s Mountain of Sugar<\/strong><\/em> is a powerhouse, versatile collection of infectious blues-rock explosions. Mountain of Sugar<\/strong><\/em> is a good time listen.\u00a0 In these fucked up times where we can\u2019t congregate and rage with friends, Mountain of Sugar is the kind of album that is the perfect soundtrack for partying by yourself.\u00a0 Crack a beer, light up a joint, put on Mountain of Sugar<\/strong><\/em>, and dance around your room without any care or concern.<\/p>\n Mountain of Sugar will be released Spring of 2021 but for now, dig on the single\/video for the outstanding “Bright in My Mind.”<\/p>\n