Slow Goat – Where the Wisest Fear to Tread
Release Date: 10th July 2026
Label: Self Released
Bandcamp
Genre: Heavy Psych, Desert Rock, Doom Metal, Stoner Rock.
FFO: Black Sabbath, Trouble, Judas Priest, Acid King, Windhand, SideWinder, Electric Hydra, Death Cult 69, Time Rift.
Review By: Mark Waight
Hailing from Portland Oregon on the Pacific Northwest coast of the USA Slow Goat are one of a rising number of new bands from the area who are reigniting global interest in 60s/70s style retro rock and bringing it back to its rightful place at the top table in the world of music.
Portland itself is seemingly a magnetic hub for the resurgence of this grassroots Psychedelic, Doom and Stoner rock phenomenon with Slow Goat and their superb debut album “Where the Wisest Fear to Tread” assuredly leading the way. On this first showing Slow Goat are certainly right up there with the cream of the crop in this refreshing new wave of bands steeped heavily in the ways of the old rock gods and long may it last.
Slow Goat is Rosie Peterson (vocals), Dan Black (guitar), Adam Carter (bass) and Eric Bloombaum (drums).
After the brief instrumental intro track “Downward” the trajectory is most definitely upwards all the way as we are treated to a very modern and yet at the same time incredibly trippy journey down memory lane.
Unexpectedly cranking up the speed straight out of the blocks “Fallen Child” is a much faster and harder rocking track than I had perhaps anticipated. It has a totally wicked hook that combines seamlessly with smoking hot vocal harmonies that fully engage you from the off by heightening your intrigue and interest for what’s to come.
Epically long and conjuring up images of the legendary greats of the late 60s and early 70s “Visions/Fell Ritual” starts by building slowly and steadily in intensity before morphing into a heavy riffing and vocally hauntingly track that for me skilfully echoes some of the classic Led Zeppelin songs of the past.
Next up “Love Like Water” runs hot and cold throughout with a sensational sweet on the ears fuzzy riffage blending nicely with some good old-fashioned gritty rock vocals to give that added bit of attention-grabbing bite. If you weren’t sold earlier by now you will be!
Distortion levels are then cranked up to the max for bleak and heavy on the doom tune “Dark Procession,” punching right through a solid wall of sound with some authentic, grin inducing old school axe slinging this song creates a genuine blue-ribbon moment! Hopefully by this point you will be anything but “Wilting” and this intricate and intoxicating tune with its banging wah-wah solo will help hold you right there in the zone!
Penultimate track “Sisyphus” is a wonderfully cool blend of summer of love psychedelia and a Black Sabbathesque heavy hitting homage to Tony Iommi. Sticking to a similar theme, grand finale “Under the Glass” is a gorgeously gloomy brew with a beautiful, brooding and dark undercurrent that expertly harnesses some hauntingly harrowing vocals to some equally moody and sullen guitar work. Gloriously grim!!
“Where the Wisest Fear to Tread” was four years in the making and boy was it worth the wait, Slow Goat have hit a home run here, this cracking album is sure to go down well with both critics and fans alike. Slow Goat has taken something that was forgotten, neglected and gathering dust in the darkest corners of the metaphorical rock attic and lovingly restored it to full health with a vibrant modern appeal for a whole new generation of rockers out there as well as all us oldies too. Very highly recommended!
(4.5 / 5)
