HÖG – BLACKHOLE
Release Date: 22nd August 2025
Label: RidingEasy Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Dark, Heavy, Grimy Rock, Blues Rock, Stoner, Punk, Doom.
FFO: Motorhead, Saint Vitus, Zeke, Black Sabbath, Budgie, Blue Cheer.
Review By: Paul Franklin
On this debut album Oregon band HÖG have, in their own words, embraced “the dirty bleakness that Portland embodies most of the year” Now, if that sounds a bit gloomy don’t worry because they have also embraced 70s metal, heavy blues, stoner/doom and sleazy garage rock. Mashing them all together to produce eight grimy speedballs of pure RAWK ‘N’ ROLL.
Playing with the urgency of hearing the last orders bell ring from the other side of the bar, the trio of Daniel, Adam and Bobcat charge through these tracks with their sleeves rolled high and their heads down low. Their influences are plain to see, a bit of Sabbath here, a splash of Zeppelin there and the full on Motörhead blast of City Witch. But, while you’d struggle to call it original, due to the huge injection of personality and attitude, it never sounds derivative.
It also helps that guitarist/vocalist Daniel changes his style of delivery, sometimes taking a more bluesy approach, others dropping down a few octaves for the doomier numbers. Although, having said that, more often than not they treat having song lyrics in the same way you’d treat having birthday candles. There is a recognition that they are an expected component, but realistically they can be quickly discarded in order to get to the most important bit – giant slabs of cake/guitars!
Blackhole is highly recommended for anyone looking for that sheer entertainment factor.
They’re HÖG. They play rock ‘n’ roll!
(4 / 5)
