They play it to rock and they do it damn well.

Swedes Greenleaf have been on the scene for almost 13 years now, having released four albums including their latest ‘Nest of Vipers’. The band started with the core of three musicians of whom now only two remain in the band – Tommi Holappa on guitar and Bengt Bäcke on bass. Three different singers (Oskar Cedermalm, Fredrik Nordin, Peder Bergstrand) take turns on various tracks to complete Greenleaf’s sound with versatile, driving vocals. Quite a diversity but you may not even notice…

Seeing the current line-up of Greenleaf gives a deceptive impression and expectations of pure stoner rock melodies of the defunct band Dozer (Olle Mårthans, Johan Rockner and Fredrick Nordin). And then you hear the initial tunes of ‘Jack Staff’’ and you know that Greenleaf can do more than stick to one genre. The melodies give the band away as true hard rockers throughout other tracks too, namely ‘Case of Fidelity’, ‘Lilith’ as well as the title track ‘Nest of Vipers (A Multitude of Sins)’. The opening three track salvo carry the strongest hard rocking sound on the album. There’s an amazing flow of energy to them.

After ‘Lilith’ a more soothing yet creepy guitar comes into ‘Tree of Life’ – a bit of stoner delirious psychedelia. Haunting mesmerizing sounds cut gently under your skin, and gradually rising rhythms culminate in rock vibes that run through your veins and nerves. The rest is not slacking off! The whole album is full of buzzing guitar riffs and crunchy guitar solos. Greenleaf is experimenting with surreal tunes. Some songs are also sprinkled with a hint of groove-laden classic rock. Reminders of Deep Purple and Black Sabbath with a touch of QOTSA or Monster Magnet are splashed across tracks such as ‘Dreamcatcher’ and ‘Sunken Ships’.

This band knows how to get into your system, and holds you gently but strongly! The title track and the final one on the album is ordering you to sin. It comes in slow motion: soft touch on hot skin, eyes that burn soul, fast breath and slow release... But it doesn’t end here! The apple you took from The Snake never vanishes. And so does the song go on, catching the second breath, pumping the life energy into an exhausted body. There is no end…!

Greenleaf are no pretenders. On ‘Nest of Vipers’ they play it to rock and they do it damn well!

Nage Drake