Released: 2024
Genre: Stoner rock, Grunge, Progressive rock
Sounds Like: King Buffalo, Tool
Homeland: North Carolina
What makes Hollow Ground elite and sit atop OHMs Peak?
Stonekind's newest release is completely immersive, featuring a plethora of progressive rock, grunge and stoner-influenced metal
As a duo, they deliver a powerful surge of heaviness, showcasing unparalleled attention to detail
Drummer Jeff Ayers' vocals exude a soothing vibe reminiscent of Jerry Cantrell, blending seamlessly with the music's style
The production of Hollow Ground is excellent, capturing a brooding, trippy, psychedelic vibe that makes it a must-have on vinyl
Track Listing: 1. Storyteller 3:55
2. Glass of Hours 3:17
3. Hollow Ground :59
4. Masters of Man 8:18
5. Dune 4:57
6. Veda 1:45
7. Dressed as Man 9:48
8. Echus Chasma 2:20
Dive deeper into Hollow Ground with our Q&A with Stonekind.
OHMs Peak: Hollow Ground your third release since 2019, is in our opinion your best work to date. We find seamless connectivity between each of the eight tracks. The landscape is filled with rich fuzz-filled blues that sprawls over some dark landscapes. Take us through the evolution of your songwriting and what makes this album different from the prior two releases.
Stonekind: Thanks so much! It’s a great feeling to know folks are digging it. Our music has definitely evolved over the years, but our process for writing the songs has basically stayed the same. The initial song structures (drums and guitar) usually come together pretty quickly and organically. Davis usually brings in some riffs and rough song structures to rehearsal in the home studio, we hash it out until we have some basic drums and transitions figured out, and then hit record. This roughest demo gets plenty of car playback, and Jeff works his magic spicing up his drum parts. We’ll rehearse and tighten things up before hitting the studio to officially track drums and rhythm guitar. Additional guitars, bass, and finally vocals (when Jeff finally gets around to it haha) are tracked in the good ol home studio. We have shared lyric writing duties throughout all three albums although Jeff wrote the majority of lyrics for Hollow Ground. We had a vision of connectivity between songs, so the song order was partially thought out before tracking so the ending of one song and beginning of the next would make sense when blended together. We’ve always loved albums with continuity between tracks so everything flows together almost like one epic song.
Both Hollow Ground and Spirit of the Void were mixed by Davis in his studio which really allowed for his perfectionist tendencies to take the reins. It’s been quite a learning and rewarding experience for us both, but can feel painfully slow at times. Hopefully it won’t be another 3 years before our next release!
This album is quite a bit heavier and darker than our previous material but the blues vibe lives strong. I don’t think we intentionally tried to make a heavier album when writing the songs, but that’s how it turned out. The context of what’s going on in the world around us over the past few years with wars, the pandemic, and social / political madness was surely a factor in the heaviness and lyrical content.
OHMs Peak: The fullness of your sound as a two piece band is astounding. Are there enhancements within the studio album that just can’t be recreated live? Would love to hear more about the approach live vs studio in your case.
Stonekind: We are still trying to figure this one out haha. Our approach thus far has been to make records that sound huge, memorable, original, and emotionally meaningful. In our attempts to do so, there are lots of layers of guitars and vocals in the mix, and Davis recorded the bass tracks. So yeah, there are plenty of enhancements that cannot be recreated live with just the two of us. With that said, we are currently looking for a bass player… Anybody?
OHMs Peak: What current band would you love to tour with? That would most compliment your sound?
Stonekind: There are so many great bands in the scene making heavy music these days… we’d be honored to share the stage and hang out with any of them. Some of our favorites recently are King Buffalo, Jack Harlon & the Dead Crows, REZN, Ritual King, and Valley of the Sun.
OHMs Peak: Interestingly 'Masters of Man' and ‘Dressed as Man’ are our two favorite tracks and we often use the names confuse them or use them interchangeably. Take us thru the concept or interplay between these two tracks that lay forth almost a prehistoric reference perhaps?
Stonekind: The idea behind the lyrics were pretty much the same. Thinking about people that can pull certain strings in our society, or have certain influence on people. Watching things move with a heaviness of the soul while we are stuck here figuring the shit out. A lot of the lyrical content on this album came out of frustration - almost a non belief of how ridiculous people of influence can be.
We confuse ourselves with these names also haha. We actually didn’t officially name them until they were mixed. They are probably the two most complex songs in our catalogue, with “Masters” being our favorite off this record.
OHMs Peak: We love that your sound evokes memories of some raw early 90s grunge bands and also morphs into wild progressive work at times. What bands form the 90s have most influenced your sound?
Stonekind: Alice in chains, Tool, Kyuss, Soundgarden, STP to name a few
I was a big Soundgarden fan and still am. I stole a lot of tidbits of Matt Cameron’s playing. I feel like Davis and I are a good combination of progressive mixed with groove. Davis will often times bring these really amazing guitar arrangements where I have to really sit back and think, “ok how do I lay a groove to this and simplify the rhythm a bit?” Maybe that’s not the best way of putting it haha - Davis is definitely the brains and I’m just the caveman that wants to dance to it.
OHMs Peak: Stonekind is stranded on an island with only a solar powered turn table and majestic powered solar blue tooth speakers. The band collectively can only choose one album. Which album to you agree to?
Stonekind: Robin Trower - Bridge of Sighs
This was the first vinyl record I ever got. I was 13 and the dad of a good friend of mine knew I was diving deep into guitar so he gave me a copy of Bridge of Sighs. I had never heard of Robin Trower and my mind was blown spinning it on my dad’s old zenith turntable. It’s such a soulful album, and the lush guitar tone/performance is so damn good I could never get tired of it. “Too Rolling Stoned” would sound right at home on a deserted island. - Davis
What’s funny is my dad turned me on to this album. I was digging through old records of his and he suggested it. He loved James Dewar and I feel the same. Absolutely incredible album.
Stonekind are:
Jeff Ayers, Jr.: Drums, Vocals
Davis Templeton: Guitars, Bass
Mastered by Jay Matheson at the Jam Room in Columbia, SC.
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