Album Review: Bear Chest – Sleaze (Self Released)

Bear Chest are a stoner rock trio from Sheffield, UK, about to release their debut album, Sleaze. The 11-track album will be unleashed on November 19th, 2021.

Groovy, fuzzy and moody but downright infectiously weird; Bear Chest make an immediate impact with Holy Roller. Before slowing the tempo down for the bassy rhythm of I Know You Hear It and bringing it right back for the energetic Burned Away. The first few tracks showcase a band brimming with imagination and not constrained by the ‘stoner rock’ tag.

It only gets better from here too as Don’t Feed It brings some of the album’s heavier and more intrusive riffs. The lightness of the vocals does little to ease the invasion of noise. Swinger is a fuzzy and sinister listen, Strip the Leather Away brings foot-tapping old-school hard rock vibes that slowly change as the track goes on, before Snake Breath takes some ideas from the doom camp with one of the heavier tracks on the album.

Does it get any better than that? Of course, it bloody does. Bear Chest have created something strange and interesting. Approaching each new track with a calm and focused demeanour ensuring that listeners know everything done here was on purpose.

More moodiness and ripping riffs makes Eat From the Inside another unforgettable listen. Red Cavern’s relaxed rhythm hides an ominous edge, one of the most dangerous and weirdly uncomfortable tracks on the album. Though No Love is as chilled out, it’s far more comforting thanks to the acoustic guitar twang and subtle vocal performance.

Finally, it’s Bleeding Through the Eyes to end things and it’s a return to the fuzzy head-banging groove. A quality finish to one hell of an album. It’s a grower, one that gets better and better as it goes on.

Bear Chest – Sleaze Full Track Listing:

1. Holy Roller
2. I Know You Hear It
3. Burned Away
4. Don’t Feed It
5. Swinger
6. Strip The Leather Away
7. Snake Breath
8. Eat From the Inside
9. Red Cavern
10. No Love
11. Bleeding Through the Eyes

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