Sleep's Holy Mountain

1. Dragonaut

2. Druid

3. Evil Gypsy/Solomon's Theme

4. Some Grass

5. Aquarian

6. Holy Mountain

7. Inside the Sun

8. From Beyond

9. Rain's Baptism

Sleep's Holy Mountain,Sleep,Earache Records,Doom Metal,Heavy Metal,Pop,Rock,Stoner Metal

Average customer rating:

No Messing C*ck-Out Stoner Metal

Sleep's Holy Mountain...

good stuff

For when you wanna get really, really bummed out

Holy Shiznit! This IS Sleep. WAKE UP!

Sleep's Holy Mountain
Sleep
Manufacturer: Earache Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music
Death Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music
General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music
Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
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Dopesmoker

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ASIN: B00000583F
Release Date: 1993-11-16

Tracks:

Dragonaut
The Druid
Evil Gypsy / Solomon's Theme
Some Grass
Aquarian
Holy Mountain
Inside The Sun
From Beyond
Nain's Baptism

Customer Reviews:

No Messing C*ck-Out Stoner Metal.......2006-03-15

Sleep are a band of somewhat cult status now, and it's mostly thanks to this monstrously heavy riff onslaught and their 60+ minute journey aptly named 'Dopesmoker'.

For those High on Fire fans, you probably already know this, but if not, Matt Pike was the lead guitarist for Sleep, and he certainly laid down a few smacking riffs in their short discography. Along with makeshift vocalist/bassist Al Cisneros, Sleep made a brutal, raw form of stoner rock/metal with next to no production qualities, and next to none articulacy for the lyrics. But that simply adds to the no-messing attitude.

The album starts off with a bang, 'Dragonaut' is a Sleep classic, starting with a lovely Sabbathy riff, the band spiral in and out of more huge riffs, psychedelic lyrics (riding dragons to crimson eyes and the likes) and some lovely tempo changes. This song pretty much sums up what Sleep are all about, it's unapologetic, heavy and above all great fun. The fundamental thing that must be pointed out is that this is definitely not for people looking for 'fancy' and 'flowery' guitar work, intellectual lyrics and intricate drum playing. This is cock-out, heavy, stoned metal.

'The Druid' and 'Evil Gypsy/Solomon's Theme' are more of the same: riffs-a-plenty, silly lyrics sung with not much care, and above all they get my head and toes tapping. 'Solomon's Theme' it should be noted has a fantastic tempo change and a lovely climatic onslaught.

'Some Grass' is a little break, a nice guitar only piece that leads us into 'Aquarium', one of my highlights of the album. The main riff here is simply stunning, and once again the band, while they would seem 'sludgy' at times, are actually very tight, and above all very patient. Never at any point do they get a good riff, and rush it, everything is taken with a sophisticated, relaxed feeling.

The last half of the album is simply relentless, far heavier and slower than the first part, containing two epics in the title track which bludgeons its 8 minutes away with an especially brutal middle section, and the simply huge sounding crescendos of 'From Beyond'. I've read some reviewers disliking the second half of the album, I did initially but now I enjoy it equally for its slower, heavier aspects.

Overall this album is great fun, its not intellectual, pretentious, fancy...its just no-messing, heavy stoner metal to sit back to and enjoy.

For fans of High on Fire, Orange Goblin, Electric Wizard, Black Sabbath, Kyuss etc

Sleep's Holy Mountain..........2006-02-26

"Sleep's Holy Mountain" sounds like it must be a land of perpetually harshed mellow. I can only imagine that its occupants must constantly be at odds with themselves as to how they should spend their time away from sobriety. They could OD on potato chips or Chex mix. Maybe they could watch some bad TV or check out a magnificent yellow sunset. Or, they could knock someone out. Up until this album, I didn't think you could really lace weed with rage.

Sleep manage to construct a somewhat spiritual, yet brutal, hybrid of 70s THC-induced sludge and the more danceable aspects of metalcore. Loud, slow and highly rhythm driven, "Sleep's Holy Mountain" rarely jacks up the speed, allowing for the songs to slowly carry you off into some sort of magic mushroom-encumbered Neverland where people can apparently get trapped "under leagues of ocean". In the case of "Dragonaut" and "Aquarian", the songs are slowed down even more by the second verse like the band are either playing around with the songs' rhythm in a subtle way, or they're just too blazed to know the difference.

Despite, the heavily applied drug aspects of this record though, you really don't have to be high to appreciate it. Al Cisneros powers this unit ably, providing a low end that more or less stars as the album's main attraction. Highly droning guitar at the hands of Matt Pike only enhance the rhythm, while Chris Hakius brings a beating upon his drum kit like he's mad at it. From start to finish though, the dynamic doesn't really break routine and comes dangerously close to getting old. Even Cisneros' vocals, which are heavily aided with the help of some cheap ethereal studio effect, grow tired and start interfering with the songs as opposed to giving them meaning and direction. It isn't until "From Beyond" that the band fully demonstrates how capable they are of playing with the formula and taking advantage of the infinite possibilities granted them by their many influences.

Overall, Sleep proves to be a powerful trio, taking stoner rock to an interesting place and letting us join the ride. "Sleep's Holy Mountain" seems like a great place to visit, but I don't think I'd want to live there.

good stuff.......2006-01-21

ive had this album since i was 16 , and im not even close to being tired of it. this aint kid stuff neither. i dont smoke weed no mo , and yes this album is geared toward such activities. but its the strong songwriting and overall vibe that lend the album its POTENCY. one reviewer said this album is a downer?? i wonder what hes smokin'! this is such a lighthearted, fun listen. Laidback vocals, mellow tempos & heaps of Sabbath riffage dumped into the POT, for those who like that sort of thing, make this one relaxing trip. theres even a little blueGRASS thrown in for good measure. this stuff definitely WEIGHS heavy, maaan!

For when you wanna get really, really bummed out.......2005-08-06

Most people like to listen to uplifting music and have a good time when they're stoned, but then there are those who like to wallow in negativity. Seems like a bad vibe to me, but what do I know?

Holy Shiznit! This IS Sleep. WAKE UP!.......2005-05-02

This is the second album from the San Jose weed worshipers. Released in 1993, this album is noteable for the facts that guitarist Justin Marler left the band to join a monastery, and Luke Cisneros decided that everyone should now call him Al Cisneros (Spanish for 'towards those who work with swans'). Did the absence of guitar interplay between Justin and Matt Pike have an adverse effect on this recording? Did Luke's literal taking of Paul Simon's request to "just call me Al" turn his bass playing soft? Here are my reviews of the songs based out of 5 *****:
"Dragonaught" - A fuzzed-out guitar introduces the theme while a super-heavy, pounding rhythm from the bass and drums sets the stage. There are plenty of proficient drum fills while the tempo suddenly downshifts to a very heavy, doomish, fuzzed guitar rhythm and echoed vocals that crawl from out of a tunnel.."Ride the dragon toward the crimson eye ..." Very Sabbath like. The tempo slows even further during the vocals, giving the listener the feeling of treading through foot-high snow drifts. The rhythm is VERY HEAVY throughout. Great bass playing and drumming! The guitar solo is right out of 'How To Play Iommi 101'. Bass gets a quick solo and then the main, thick theme closes out the tune. ABSOLUTLEY Mind Bending! The best of Black Sabbath rolled into a super-kind joint of Northern Lights! Rating - *****
"The Druid" - A super-thick, chugging, fuzzed-out guitar opens with the main theme as drum cymbals and bass thump their way into the mix. The singing has a punkish vibe to it, but the music is pure DOOM! There are nice bass fills that proceed some "War Pigs" style riffage. The music jolts to a halt...quick bass lines followed by jazzy/prog drumming clears the way for a blazing guitar solo. The bass and drums lay down a very heavy, jazzed-out backing. The solo ends, and some uber-thick bass/drums return to the main theme and close out the song. Pure molten lava metal at it's DOOMISH finest! FANTASTIC! Rating - *****
"Evil Gypsy/Solomon's Theme" - Guitar feedback squeels out and then plays the main theme as the drums and bass slowly creep to the forefront. VERY HEAVY, dense, bass and drums. Alot of feedback and distortion from the guitar. The vocals change from screaming/punkish to Ozzy.."Glass village lies below. Castle of sleet with magic glow." The melody abruptly changes as drums lay down a tribal rhythm which the bass and guitar echo. Some fine drumming on display by Chris Hakius! Guitar solo uses alot of echo effects while the bass and drums lay down another heavy, jazzish background. The thick, voluminous rhythm returns and the feeling of "Kill 'Em All" era Metallica is vibed as a very thick,chugging rhythm crushes the ears. The metal onslaught ends with some guitar feedback and drum crashing! Another masterpiece of molten metal sludge! Rating - *****
"Some Grass" - A quick bluegrass, fingerpicked guitar instrumental that showcases another musical reference. Nice and short. Rating - **
"Aquarian" - Chugging Guitar and THUMPING bass and drums with a SLOOOW tempo. The feeling of being underwater (or more like being drowned in tar) lays the mood as Al sings..."Trapped in a world under leagues of ocean. The clergy arrives with the magic potion." Give me some of that! VERY sloow, viscous tempo with some awesome bass fills. The mulit-layered guitar solo is scorching! The solo fades out, and the bass and drum take center stage and then halt...The guitar and bass re-introduce the theme and the sludgefest resumes to the end. Damn! Sabbath better than Sabbath! Rating - *****
"Holy Mountain" - The titular track begins with fuzzed power chord and main rhythm. The tempo is slow as the bass and drums crash in with the vocals...."Slumber killed by rays of the new red sun arising." Damn sun! The mood and melody is droning, slow, creepish, thick. Thumping bass and heavy guitar during the bridge threatens to crush the bridge under the sheer weight of the playing! Very Thick! The song fades out and a low/light bass shines out of the mountain, to be greeted by some light guitar. The bass and guitar slowly make their out of the mountain and the volume and tempo increases. The guitar reaches the opening first and has a multi-layered solo, while the bass and drum continue their rhythm and hike. The solo fades out and is replaced with a even heavier rhythm that builds and rejoins the main theme as vocals rejoice.."Look onto the rays of the new stoner sun rising." YEAH BABY! The song has an abrupt ending as its time to go to work. Bummer! Rating - ****
"Inside The Sun" - Starts with some uptempo drumming and guitar feedback. The vocals have a punkesque quality. The tempo is fast and ambient with some fine drumming. A tempo/rhythm change into a SLOOOW, pounding bass and drum with the constant guitar fuzz and feedback. Guitar solo uses alot of distortion and echo. A stream of feedback ends the tune. Rating - ***
"From Beyond" - Low, moody, light and slow bass with minimal guitar. Bluesy but real slow. The volume builds and then explodes as the fuzzed guitar, drums and bass play a repeating, hypnotic melody. This ends, and a thick, pummeling bass, drums, guitar pave way for the vocals.."Choir of the sun chants inside the anti moon." The tempo downshifts during the last phrase as drums and bass play without guitar. The guitar rejoins and the volume thickens as echo effected vocals add a spacey feel to the song. Another multi-layered guiatr solo that is absolutely killer! This is a pretty long tune that clock in at about 10 minutes. Rating - ****
"Raja's Baptism" - An instrumental with just bass and drum. Slow and doomy as a baptism is wont to be. Rating - **
The departure of second guitarist Justin Marler actually made the band heavier and denser! The fist half of this album is staggering in it's sonic onslaught. The fist half is the BEST "doom" material I have heard. The second half is good to above average but kind of boring. This is a masterpiece of an album that encapsules the band at their sonic apex. This album is pure molten doom, and something Sabbath should have been doing. If you like heavy, "Into The Void" "Sweet Leaf" Black Sabbath, this is for you! BUY THIS NOW!