SMOKE HEALER

(By Pat ‘Riot’ Whitaker, Lead Journalist/Writer, RiffRelevant.com)

It is no big secret that marijuana cultivation and the State of Kentucky in the U.S. have a symbiotic relationship established quite long ago.

You would think with that fact’s validity, the state would be overflowing with Stoner Rock type bands everywhere but sadly, that’s not really the case. Sure, we have some killer acts here and there within my home state, but not many come to mind right off the top of my head.

We do have Moonbow, Stonecutters, Tiger Nest and a few others that maintain solid footing, and now I have another to add to that list.


The Hebron, KY Smoke Healer first formed in 2014, released their first effort, a self-titled full-length in 2015, and now they are back. The return came back in November when the quintet issued their six-song “Highway Meets The Sky” EP.

It recently sparked my attention and now that I have partaken of it rather thoroughly, I’m here to break it down a bit for you. A two word term to sum it up rather nicely would be “the chronic”, because Dan Ryan (Vocals), Chris “Chuzz McBuzz” Brown (Guitar), Jake Stone (Guitar), Brooke Smith (Bass), and Mike Hamm (Drums, Percussion) are clearly sonic shit-kickers.

This crew mashes an intoxicating blend of blues, southern rock, boogie, and metal into an undeniably Seventies-influenced sound ‘n style. This reality hits you like a sledgehammer out of the haze, with the metal-infused chuggery of opening cut “Fungustus Villa“. Driving, pounding rhythms and drums blast away as the backbone here, while the guitar emits its massive electrified riffery.

Choosing not to monkey with what works, that formula is applied to other incredible numbers here. Ones like the metallic cruncher “No More” are a tightly wound flurry of riffs, rhythms, and drum kit rampage. Or there’s the simmering, slow burn of bluesy cuts such as “Medicine Man” and “Death Proof (Hell On Wheels)“.

Clearly, one of the stronger aspects for the band and this EP are the vocals. They’re gritty with just enough get-up and gravel in their underbelly to suit each song right nicely. It’s always good to see Kentucky being represented on the map of the heavy music underground and Smoke Healer are as good an ambassador as any.

With “Highway Meets The Sky“, they neither negate nor compromise the legitimacy of their Southern standing. Instead, they toss caution to the wind, unleash the boogie and blues badassery they’re so capable of, and it works with fiercely fantastic results. - RiffRelevant.com

There seem to be a new genre on the block, or so Kentucky's Smoke Healer would have you believe, and that genre is "smoked metal" funny thing is, so far, there only seems to be one exponent. Dan Ryan (Vocals),Chris Brown (Guitar), Jake Stone (Guitar), Brooke Smith (Bass) and Mike Hamm (Percussion) are Smoke Healer a band who have accrued a small but dedicated following since the release of their self-titled debut "Smoke Healer" in 2015.The band are hoping to enlarge on that following with the release of their latest offering "Highway Meets The Sky".

Those nay-sayers who have a down on 70's inspired hard rock and metal (yes they do exist) may need to stop reading now as "Highway Meets The Sky" is an album unabashed and unashamed to strut its 70's credentials. Those that stick around though might find themselves reading about a little gem that although influenced by the past is not defined by it. Smoke Healer are a band who write songs, not vehicles for riffs, though there are plenty to be found here, good old fashioned songs with intro's, verses, choruses, bridges, and outros and into these unfashionable song structures the band inject swagger, swing and attitude as well as some damn fine musicianship. To say that these songs rock would be an understatement, from first track "Fungustus Villa" through to the Tarantino inspired last track "Death Proof (Hell On Wheels)" Smoke Healer propel you on journeys that take in hard rock bluster, stoner fuzz and old school metal all sprinkled with a liberal dose of South Eastern swagger. Thick riffage, soaring solo's, galloping bass lines and punchy percussion are all topped off by clean, clear vocals that are imbued with just the right amount of Kentuckian grit and gravel to give the six songs that make up "Highway Meets The Sky" a real organic feel, something that can't be described in words but can certainly be felt through the music.

"Highway Meets The Sky" is an excellent release that hopefully will see a few more of those who appreciate a good groove flocking to their flag. If your looking for a sound occupying a middle ground pitched somewhere between Greece's Planet of Zeus and Maryland's Clutch then you can't go wrong with Smoke Healer.
Check 'em out ..... - Desert Psychlist

One we might have missed last year. Don’t miss it now.

Ass, gas and cash, nobody dies for free…

Sounds like something that Dave Wyndorf from Monster Magnet might have as a mission statement. (and just the very idea of Monster Magnet having a mission statement makes us smile, but we digress), it is also very nearly a line from Poison’s “Valley Of Lost Souls” from 1990. But the matter at hand is what it represents to Smoke Healer.

Those are the last words on “Death Proof (Hell On Wheels)”, the last song on “Where The Highway Meets The Sky” and as you might have guessed, it is a rip-roaring affair. So rock n roll is this song in fact, that if Lemmy himself was singing it. While swigging Jack Daniels. On a Harley. Racing towards a burning building at 100mph you might get somewhere close to its majesty. In plain English, it is like Zakk Wylde has joined the aforementioned Monster Magnet for the most fun jam ever.

If that’s the best of the five full length songs here (there’s a strange instrumental too) then the rest ain’t too shabby either.

As you’d expect from a band with two guitarists – one of whom glories in the name Chuzz McBuzz – this has got quite a punch about it. “Fungustus Villa” is a deep-fried slab of riffery, but this isn’t one of those records that thinks the only place to be is listening to Kyuss with a bong. Instead the five piece have a thorough understanding of 70s classic rock and soaring melody.

“No More” has a bit of Scorpion Child about it, as Dan Ryan, the band’s singer, stamps his authority all over the thing, while “Medicine Man” allows their southern roots to shine through (the band is from Hebron, Kentucky) but this isn’t anything like Skynyrd or Blackberry Smoke, this is southern rock the way it might sound if Black Stone Cherry listened to Alice In Chains first couple of albums then got really riled up. Bass player Brooke Smith provides a meaty base for the track and it fair old swings.

Believing (rightly) that there are only two sorts of music, rock and roll, Smoke Healer have a kind of slam about them. “Wastin’ Time” has a quite superb guitar sound and is absolutely insistent that you will like them – or else! “If you’re waiting for the race to start, well then you’ve already lost” seems like more than a throwaway line here. This is a band with much to do.

And that is even before the last song has convinced that this is the realest of real deals.

“Where The Highway Meets The Sky” deserves to be so much more than a hidden gem. It is the sound of a band heading for the fast lane. A smoke signal of intent, the healing powers of rock n roll (as The Supersuckers might have said) are never more in evidence than here.

Rating 9/10 - maximumvolumemusic.com