If you have yet to be introduced to the volatile sounds of Portland’s most accomplished rock act in recent years, Red Fang, allow me to present you to the controlled riot that is manifested by their third full-length album, Whales and Leeches. A follow up to 2011’s critically acclaimed Murder the Mountains, the new album captures a viscous energy by tying seismic rhythms with crisp, heavy guitar tones. Tracks like the roaring opener, “Doen” and “Behind the Light” (featuring Mike Scheidt of Yob) move technical lead lines through driving rhythms that shake the listener with ferocious dynamics. Other songs such as “Failure” and the hypnotic closer, “Every Little Twist” balance their heavy influences with an ethereal backdrop to create a sound that is simultaneously haunting and aggressive. The album is released on October 15th through Relapse Records, but thanks to the folks at Pitchfork you can stream the album in it’s entirety here. Listen, enjoy and try not to hurt your neck with all the headbanging. – Benjamin Toledo
