Friendship Commanders - Bear

What is this?  What kind of name is that?  Those were the thoughts that poured into my head when the promo for this duo's fourth full-length album “Bear.”

But they have a Metallum page and were featured on a Weedian compilation so it had to be something I would enjoy and feature on my blog right? Well, they are from Nashville and I'm a fellow Tennessean, so I figured why not at least give it a chance?

I still don't know what this is, but I enjoy the hell out of this album! Is this doom? Sludge? I think I would say it's in the doom category—the album is full of massive guitar riffs and bass that could level a forest. But it has a “grunge” feel at times and can be melodic when needed.  

It is also catchy as hell. I mean, every song WILL get stuck in your head for days. On top of all that, the musicianship is tight as hell.  Vocalist Buick Audra sings her face off. Her vocals are clean, but they are extremely potent with a lot of nuances to them. She's also a riff lord and jams the strings as hard as she sings.

Jerry Roe provides the rhythm machine—and what a machine he is. He's equally competent on both bass and drums. The tone of his bass is perfect for this style too; he is a riff lord too. Two in one band? What a twist! His drums are tight and crisp, providing a rock-solid backbone with the energy of a dozen players.

Apparently, this band made their debut back in 2014 but, considering this is my first experience as well, “Bear” is a good place to start if you're new to them as well. Let's dive into a few of the songs!

Right away the album presents a banger with the opening song “Keeping Score.” Immediately it was clear the two musicians are perfect for each other: the drums hit hard, accenting the vocals and groove. The chorus is an earworm and it's hard not to be impressed by the guitars/bass. Buick soars above it all but never overpowers the instruments.

“Dripping Silver,” has a bit of a grunge feel to it, especially in the riffs which combine a dash of melancholy.  I like the tempo and direction of the guitar/bass, it’s atmospheric to a degree but thick as gravy, making a song that hits hard but flows expertly.   Jerry’s drumming steers the song, guiding Buick’s voice through this winding path. 

“X,” has a ton of energy very early on with a powerful kickstart thanks to the drums.  The vocals play off the music well, the whole song having a pop aesthetic, in terms of being catchy but the music is as powerful as ever–this particular song feels like a stoner doom song, with a fog that vibes throughout the song’s atmosphere.  

 

“Imperfect,” ups the tempo a bit for a hard-driving song that begins with a gripping riff.  Buick powers away through while the heavy and static riffs/bass bolster her up.  The bass on this song is a giant, just wave after wave of groove. 

The last song, “Dead Discarded Girls,” feels both trippy and vintage at the same time.  The clean instrumentation is just as powerful as their heavier side but then the song kicks in after the one-minute mark as the song becomes a doom mini-epic.  This just might be my favorite song on the album.  The riffs, the drums, vocals…everything comes into place here for a strong finish to a strong album!

Friendship Commanders’ “Bear,” is one of the best surprises of the year for me.  It’s heavy enough to satisfy stoner/doom/sludge fans but it isn’t extreme so even non-metalheads will find much to enjoy here.  Very proud having a band of this caliber in Tennessee! We are more than just country (ugh)! Highly recommended.

Rating: Excellent