Crank this to 10.2 of 11 - Editors' Pick
Released: 2016
Genre: Stoner Rock
Sounds Like: Sugartooth, Roachpowder
There are many elements that make up a quality stoner rock album. What are some of the key ingredients that we look for? A rich and powerful undercurrent of bass and rhythmic sludge fretwork are essentials. Couple that with some fresh euphoric vocals that resonate and you are on the right track. Carnaval and their latest album entitled Miss Universe certainly meet these two hurdles.
To further the blissful cloud of smoke, Carnaval delivers a level of precision and tightness that elevates this beyond your average stoner rock album. They infuse a variety of other ingredients making this a clear editor’s pick for us. Miss Universe is a tremendously diverse journey that gets better with each listen primarily due to the myriad of deep stoner grooves and bold lyrics.
What is the standout track?
So many fucking great tracks on this album. After much debate we have to go with “Bluebird” by a hair. The carved out grooves and undercurrent on this track are second to none. Layer that with some passive aggressive soft-spoken vocals that culminated into this intense melody. We practically blow our load at the 5:46 mark. Now don't get us wrong here depending on our mood either “Burning Sun” or “Seven” come in a close second.
Are there any quirky tracks or unusual areas on Miss Universe?
Yes, “Rocket”. Do not get frustrated with the initial vibe off this jovial slapstick track. It will absolutely grow on you… that we promise. With tremendous percussion and a shit ton of precision, this track really climbed the ranks. To be frank we disliked this song at first listen, however, after a few rotations it's become a hidden gem amongst our crew.
What adult beverage do we recommend accompany this album?
We highly recommend Bell’s Consecrator Dopplebock. This traditional 8.00% (ABV) doppelbock is fermented with old world lager yeast. Reddish brown in color with a mild hop profile. Consecrator is a well-balanced, full bodied beer with a smooth, malty finish.
Final thoughts for Miss Universe.
From the far reaches of Zalog Ljubljana this foursome has blown us away. We are not gonna lie to you, we have absolutely no clue where Zalog is. (Apparently it's nestled in the eastern part of what is central Slovenia). The power of Stoner rock influences all parts of the universe and more specifically Miss Universe fits right in with some of the best Stoner rock albums over the last twenty years.
One of the real bright spots of finding a hidden gem like this is the intrigue of listening to their previous releases. To our surprise, Carnaval has been around since 2004 and have two full lengths and an EP in their discography. We will certainly delve in over the coming weeks. Kudos to Kapa Records and their brilliance in signing these folks. A second shout out to Hanna Juta Kozar for the intriguing artwork that lured us in. This album is an essential for any Stoner rock fan. Grab it on Bandcamp and throw it on rotation.
Band Members:
Ažo - guitars & vocals
Vičo - guitars
Mato - drums
Sacco – bass
Tracklist:
1. New Shoes Of Mine 04:31
2. Seven 06:28
3. Moon Shuffle 06:50
4. Round Nose Cat 06:15
5. Bluebird 06:41
6. Space Bar 05:43
7. Silver Starlight 04:54
8. Rocket 05:20
9. Burning Sun 09:43