As soon as the first crushing fuzz-laden riffs of "Brotha" kick in, it’s clear: Kaiser take no prisoners. The Finnish power trio ignites a sonic explosion, proving that Stoner Metal doesn’t have to come from the desert to evoke shimmering heat waves and dusty highways. Comparisons to Kyuss? Inevitable—and on their second album, that association remains strong.
With a wall of fuzz-drenched guitars, roaring bass, and driving drums, Kaiser hammer their way through a storm of sound that is almost unmatched in energy. Vocalist Otu lets his voice simmer within this sonic flood—not in the foreground, but as a dark shadow that makes the atmosphere even heavier.
This is especially evident on "Oversized Load", a track that digs deep into ominous territory, radiating a menacing intensity reminiscent of Alice in Chains darkest moments before it erupts into a massive storm of fuzz-laden noise.
But Kaiser have more to offer: "Stood Still" spirals hypnotically, a trance-like journey with psychedelic depth.
Then comes the aptly named "Awaken Monster"—a thunderous harbinger of the finale. "Aftershock" leaves the listener in a vortex of reverberating riff storms and harmonic weight, somewhere between apocalyptic groove and an melancholic undertone. When the needle lifts from the last song, one thing remains clear: With "2nd Sound", Kaiser have firmly secured their throne in the Stoner Rock Olympus.
-Helge Neumann
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