Philly’s HIGH LEAF Lift Off with ‘Vision Quest’
~Review by Tom Hanno~
The Philadelphia stoner merchants in HIGH LEAF are preparing to drop their debut album on May 5th! The band, whose lineup consists of lead guitarist Patrick Fiore, Corey Presner on vocals and guitar, bassist Brian Schmidt, and drummer Dean Welsh, have created eight tracks that are influenced by grunge, stoner metal/rock, heavy psych, etc. These songs have all of the traits that are commonplace in the genre while still offering up something that feels fresh and exciting, yet familiar as well. That album is called 'Vision Quest' (2023), and it is the reason we've gathered here today.
Their first single ever is "Green Rider", opening the proceedings with a big bong hit followed by a long exhale. The fuzz factor of that first riff may make you think of a hazy, smoke filled room containing four stoners creating music for other stoners. There's an obvious Sleep influence going on, though with a vocal approach that is varied and incredible. Corey has bits and pieces of his influences that come through in his vocals, but he turns them into his own style without mimicking any of them.
LISTEN: High Leaf - "Green Rider"
"Vision Quest" sees High Leaf delving into their more psychedelic side for a great majority of the song, fortifying it with bluesy stoner sections, a Pink Floyd-esque feel, and ending the track with a grungy stoner metal vibe that features vocals influenced by the legendary singers that came to prominence in the '90s.
"Subversive" has a vocal style that will appeal to fans of Alice in Chains and Soundgarden, while the music pulls from both stoner and grunge genres. This is a powerful track that is packed with beefy riffs, and a solid rhythmic backbone. It is one of, if not the best song on Vision Quest, so anyone with an ear for this genre will absolutely love what High Leaf laid down here!
"Dead Eye" marks the halfway point of Vision Quest, steamrolling its way in with a fat sounding riff that is superb! As with the other tracks, this features more of Corey's excellent vocals, and the ultra thick riffs that are a staple of the High Leaf sound. It's not the best song on this record, but isn't weak in any way either.
"Hard to Find" continues on with the high quality music that the first half of the record displayed, with the difference being that there is a hard rock vibe that harkens back to the '80s and '90s. Corey also brings in an even more diverse display of his talents, and while this isn't my favorite track, it is my favorite performance of his. Pat pulls off a perfect lead on this track too, it's completely suited to the song and shows that he's got the chops needed to create memorable solos.
"Painted Desert" begins by briefly showcasing the drum and bass skills of Brian and Dean before the guitars enter. There's a serious Layne Staley meets Scott Weiland sound within the vocals, while the music is the stonerized version of Pearl Jam-esque grunge that you didn't know you needed, but will want more of after you get it. It's a quick track that's absolutely killer from beginning to end.
"March to the Grave" and "The Rot" are the final tracks on Vision Quest, and they both have all of the elements that High Leaf has given listeners since the "Green Rider" single started playing. Of the two I found that I prefer "The Rot," it's a bit more diverse sounding musically and vocally, but both songs are excellent examples of what this band can do.
Vision Quest is a stunning debut record in every way. These Philly stoner diehards are as talented as their music exhibits, and are sure to win over even the most stubborn music fan with their take on the genre. This simply means that you will find something to love even if you aren't totally sold on stoner music, as the fuzzed out riffs will work their way into your subconscious and refuse to leave. So head to Spotify to check out their lead off single as you wait for it to become available on Bandcamp. Enjoy!
Vision Quest by HIGH LEAF
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