Stargo - "Violet Skies"
Stargo is a trio from the Ruhr area of Germany whose sound smoothly combines stoner metal, stoner rock, and psychedelic rock, an ideal cocktail for "everyone from rock-loving hippies and stoner freaks to die-hard metalheads [during] a collective headbanging ritual under a lava lamp".
The band formed in Dortmund in 2008, releasing the alternative and psychedelic rock-forward album Parasight in 2020 and the mind-bending instrumental EP Dammbruch in 2022. Stargo has stayed very active in the heavy underground live scene over the years, sharing the stage with greats such as Kadavar, Colour Haze, My Sleeping Karma, and Castle Rat.
Now, the trio is back with their new album Violet Skies, a release that manages to include plenty of eclectic and ethereal tones from the band while simultaneously being their most metal-forward album yet.
Stargo - Violet Skies
1.) Interstellar
Interstellar opens the album in a powerful way with tones that vacillate between weighty stomps of stoner/doom and soaring and invigorating spacey vibes. This is a track that thoroughly sets the stage for a showing of both infectious energy and thoughtful compositions.
2.) Shine Like Diamonds
Similarly to the opening track, Shine Like Diamonds delivers an undeniable liveliness and a sense of adventure as the chorus beckons, "Let's go shine like diamonds, set this world on fire!" This time, the mood is set with some classic, reverberating stoner rock that fills the entirety of your brain as you listen, making the fact that this big sound reverberates from only three musicians that much more impressive.
3.) Don't Mind
Don't Mind sharply switches gears with an emotionally charged, stormy stoner/alternative framework adorned with heartfelt, passionate vocals. The emotion crescendos to a heart-wrenching cyclone of intensity from both vocals and instrumentals by the song's end, beautifully capping off this raw track.
4.) Left for Dead
Left for Dead keeps the moody vibe going and makes great use of genre mashups by combining post punk-tinged verses with ultra expressive and gravelly stoner choruses. This combination smartly illustrates both vulnerability and an inevitable explosion of pent-up frustrations.
5.) The Artist
The Artist starts off with a weary, dispirited atmosphere with just a bit of western influence, before morphing into some crunchy but trepidatious stoner metal turbulence. No matter how heavy the song gets, the passion from the vocals holds on, ultimately delivering their most impressive performance on the album.
6.) Stargazer
Metal makes a strong appearance in Stargazer, where gritty and driving riffs hit the brakes only slightly for dreamy choruses.
7.) Tharsis
The longest track on Violet Skies at just over ten minutes, the instrumental Tharsis also boasts the most complex composition. This song gracefully flows between the styles Stargo does best, particularly stoner metal and spacey psychedelic rock. There's also a post metal vibe here, particularly in the song's first two minutes. Perhaps best of all, Tharsis brilliantly highlights each instrument and the musicianship of its player, proof positive that this talented group possesses impressive chops.
8.) The Great Machine
Ah, The Great Machine...the debut single from Violet Skies and my favorite song on the album. I love the way its anxious acoustic intro suddenly free falls into epic stoner metal grove; it gives me goosebumps every time. This is a short but powerful track on which vexation about its subject matter isn't overly blatant, but is distinguishable in an ever-present layer of grit behind an otherwise mellifluous vocal.
The music video for "The Great Machine", shot by Ansgar Wojahn
Final Thoughts
When compared to Stargo's previous albums Parasight and Dammbruch, Violet Skies stands out boldly in a very commendable way. A noticeable amount of stoner metal heaviness has been added to the band's sound on this album, but for every ounce of weight, Stargo has also employed an equal amount of passionate and authentic emotional expression. In fact, I get the sense that this album is a very personal one for the band, as its moods ebb and flow with striking resemblance to the natural course of human emotions.
Stargo also appears to be experimenting with some new styles, including post punk and post metal, genres that seamlessly fit into the band's eclectic style at opportune moments.
It definitely bears mentioning that, in spite of all the changes Stargo has made on Violet Skies, the band holds onto their roots with just as much conviction, staying true to the heart of their signature sound. You'll hear this in the band's spacey psychedelic interludes, alternative rock energy, and classic stoner groove. However, bursts of a heavier kind of intensity in conjunction with more pensive, serious moments and unrestrained expressiveness are not only a great look for Stargo, but are a natural evolution for this incredible trio.
More About Stargo
Stargo Is:
Nordin - Guitar, Vocals
Stefan - Bass, Synths
Karsten - Drums
You can follow Stargo and listen to their music at the following links:
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