TIER Releases New Single and Video, "Keep Sweet" Ahead of Upcoming Album
TIER is a band from Trier, Germany who puts a very unique and theatrical spin on the standard stoner/rock fare. Instrumentally, their sound has a strong basis of stoner/desert rock that often takes on a bit of western flair, and even more frequently, becomes delightfully weighty (as stoner rock is inclined to do). The vocals are where things start to get really interesting... Not only does TIER often utilize a heavy blues/country western vocal style, but they incorporate multi-dimensional, layered vocal harmonies that really add to the theme and plot of each song. I was immediately struck by the band's originally (and creativity); I'm not sure that I've ever heard such a contrasting combination of sheer loveliness and grit in the stoner/heavy blues realm that just works as it does here. However, TIER successfully creates an impressively cinematic experience, as appropriate for a focused listening session as it is for everyday rocking out on the drive to work.
TIER is composed of a trio of musicians, Fab (bass), Jan (guitar), and Jones (drums). These "brothers in spirt and groove" released their debut EP, Dawner, in December 2022. Now, the band is gearing up for their first full-length release, Backwood Blues, out on May 16, 2025 via the awesome Pink Tank Records. However, TIER decided to give us a lovely gift just in time for Valentine's Day by dropping the first single from the album, the aptly titled Keep Sweet, along with an accompanying lyric video (below):
Keep Sweet: the Premier Single from Backwood Blues
Keep Sweet is a great choice for the first single from Backwood Blues, as it truly encapsulates a little of everything that makes up TIER's signature sound. A bit of a delicate, cowboy campfire-esque intro quickly leads into the gritty and barreling stoner metal chorus, adorned with vocals both gruff and dulcet. The vocal harmonies here appropriately draw upon a southern gospel style (I love those "In the name of the Looooord"s). The verses are a little more bare bones in the best way, where crawling bass and grooving percussion allow the melody of the vocals to stand out. Lyrically, the song is a satirical warning to "keep sweet", a phrase frequently used by the infamous Warren Jeffs of The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS). Essentially, the phrase encourages followers of the cult, particularly women, to stifle their emotions and keep a smile on their face, even in the midst of grave mistreatment and abuse by those that are believed to have "authority" over them. As a whole, Keep Sweet offers a very immersive blend of quality stoner/desert grooves, creativity, and vocal aptitude, and a healthy dose of wit to bring it all together. The primary thing you need to know, however, is while this single certainly offers a window into what you can expect from the full Backwood Blues album, it's a fleeting glimpse... I assure you; Backwood Blues is filled with surprises and variety that you don't want to miss!
Backwood Blues drops on May 16, 2025 via Pink Tank Records!
More About TIER
You can follow TIER and listen to their music at the following links:
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