FUSER Releases "Aero Soul"
If you're at all familiar with the German stoner rock scene, chances are you've heard of FUSER, the aptly named band that truly fuses the best of stoner rock, grunge, alternative, and even heavy metal stylings to create an energetic, gritty, and sophisticated sound. Hailing from the Oldenburg/Bremen area of Germany, FUSER has been "kickin' balls" since 1998. They're no strangers to cranking out infectious heavy music, but they also frequently play high octane live gigs with some of the finest bands in the German underground scene. Not only that, but they're incredibly supportive members of the heavy underground music scene when it comes to their fellow bands and silly little bloggers such as myself. I've been following FUSER for about a year now, so I was over the moon to learn that the band was hard at work on their third album. This new release, titled "Aero Soul", dropped on December 8, 2024, and I'm here to shine a much-deserved light on it.
Aero Soul
1.) Ampire
Fun Facts first: Ampire is the name of FUSER's 2020 sophomore album, and it was also the first single from Aero Soul, released as a live recorded track in December 2023.
A song that will always lift my spirits, Ampire is very much an alternative rock song and is the most representative of the sound FUSER got their start with. A light and optimistic tone shimmers like golden sunbeams atop a bass groove that keeps this track grounded while a hint of space rock floats about. The combination of male and female vocals communicates a sense of wonder and awe in the presence of the "towers of sound", particularly as those towers become more imposing as Ampire ends.
2.) Blew
Blew turns the stoner grit up to eleven while folding in a healthy amount of 70s heavy rock that hits like a cool drink of water. The vocal harmonies in the chorus really seal the deal, evoking images of a car barreling down a desert highway in a retro action movie. Like Ampire, Blew is a very feel-good song, this time in an infectiously groovy way.
3.) Fresh Dead Warm
Fresh Dead Warm is the first song on Ampire to really bring the stoner metal sound. The guitar provides a delightfully coarse texture as it did in the previous two tracks, but this time with a metal edge. In the song's choruses, this switches to spiraling heavy psych atmospheres that blend beautifully well amid the energetic percussion and rollicking bass. Undoubtedly catchy, Fresh Dead Warm instantly became my favorite track on the album.
4.) Bucket List
Bucket List is a song that has several distinct layers. It begins with a killer stoner/desert flair that becomes increasingly rugged as it combines with stoner metal. Midway through, a showcase of FUSER's instrumental prowess slowly transitions the song into a trepidatious psychedelic feeling, at which point you can physically feel the mood change. Bucket List is arguably the most notable vocal performance on the album, starting the song in a more confrontational manner that switches to an intensely pained and mournful tone by its end. No matter what emotion they're communicating, the vocals on Bucket List are always performed with noticeable and genuine passion.
5.) Aero Soul
The album's title track is a nearly ten-minute ultra immersive and multi-faceted instrumental jam that beautifully showcases FUSER's chops. Sweeping but darkened heavy psych dances with crushing riffage that has a post metal tonality, reminding me a bit of Pelican.
6.) Crangon Crangon
This is a heavy but haunting desert psych track with Eastern influences. A choppy, metallic riff makes itself known post-chorus, never letting the song float away entirely on its mesmeric verses and interludes. Crangon Crangon is definitely another personal favorite song for me.
7.) Only Death...
This eight-and-a-half-minute track ends the album in a powerful way, boldy underlining the weightier direction FUSER's sound has taken on Aero Soul. You hear a bit of everything here: stoner, desert, psychedelic, alternative, and metal. This is FUSER, a band that takes all of these influences and melds them together into their signature sound. I feel Only Death... is very representative of the band's essence.
Final Thoughts
Aero Soul sees FUSER continuing to evolve their sound in a heavier direction. The band began utlizing more heavy psych and metal tones on their 2020 album Ampire, and they really run with it on Aero Soul in a skilled and confident way. This latest album proves without a doubt that FUSER can play a wide variety of musical styles exceptionally well. As an alternative rock fan at heart, I would normally be a bit bummed when a favorite alternative and grunge-oriented band takes on a heavier tone, but in this case, I can genuinely say that I love it; it works so well for FUSER, and it just feels right.
I knew that Aero Soul was going to be good before I listened, but I was absolutely blown away by what I heard. In fact, of all the albums that I've heard this year, this is one of the most impressive when it comes to a tangible "level up" of a band's sound. You can truly hear and feel all the hard work and passion that went into Aero Soul, undeniably proving that FUSER is a band that's making music that comes straight from their hearts. I think it's safe to say that this could be FUSER's magnum opus, and it's a work they can be incredibly proud of.
More About FUSER
You can follow FUSER, and listen to their music at the following links:
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