Hermano

In the world of so-called "stoner rock," any connection to Kyuss is a connection to cool. Hermano have instant cache with John Garcia (Kyuss, Unida) terrorising the microphone. To be blunt, John Garcia's presence didn't do much to enhance Slo Burn, his first post-Kyuss band. However, Hermano have more to offer than simply a name to drop. The brainchild of Steve "Dandy" Brown (Orquestra del Desierto), Hermano is a super-group of sorts bringing together John Garcia, Steve Earle (no, the one from Afghan Whigs), David Angstrom (Black Cat Bone, Supafuzz) and Mike Callahan (Disengage). With so many band commitments to consider, it took almost a year from inception (and a lot of tape trading) to get into the studio, and another two-and-a-half years to be released (yet somehow they managed to tour Europe in July of this year). Calling it "desert" rock just doesn't sit right when you consider ...Only A Suggestion was recorded in the deep of winter in Cincinnati, OH. At the same time, comparisons to Kyuss are hard to avoid, what with a shared vocalist and a heavy-assed riff rock foundation. But, Hermano swings more than Kyuss did, and they also indulge in the tripped-out, effects-drenched solos favoured by Monster Magnet; there are even hints of the melodic heaviness of Soundgarden. Better than expected, but if it took three-and-a-half years to get 28 minutes out, Hermano might be touring their next full-length in Depends undergarments.