Heavy Metal Textbooks

FAMILIARS: All In Good Time

Down To Earth Heavy Grooves From Across The Great Lakes

Sitting on top of the Great Lakes is the Canadian province of Ontario.  Ontario has given us two of the seven Canadian NHL teams, and now has given us one of the best albums so far in 2020.  Familiars are a three piece band that sounds like four or five, and they have a nice relaxed way of building up to a heavy sound.  All In Good Time features quality songwriting with distinctive vocal harmonies and super-tasteful guitar soloing.  Familiars should appeal to fans of Black Lung and All Them Witches, while not sounding very close to either band.  Hear for yourself.  The opening track, entitled "Homestead", really kicks the album off in style.  Ever-evolving, both at the 4 and 5 minute marks I found myself hooked deeper and deeper, while noting how far the tune had come from where it started.  

Hear for yourself:

Familiars are an interesting bunch of guys.  Guitar player/singer Kevin suffered cardiac arrest while sitting around a campfire during the period this album was recorded.  His wife administered CPR and saved his life.  The band states that this 'changed the vibe of the record', but I have no guess as to which tunes were recorded before and which came after.  

I do like them all, but "The Common Loon" is one of my favorites so far.

Familiars are:

Jared MacIntyre: Electric Bass Guitar, Wurlitzer & Vocals
Anton Babych: Drums, Percussion
Simon Larochette: Pedal Steel, Additional Percussion

I feel the need to point out that blogs have been practiced social distancing since their creation.  You're never reading a blog where the writer is less than 6 feet away.

New post ASAP

-ULTRA