I once checked Amplifier’s The Astronaut Dismantles Hal single out because it was in our local record store’s stoner department. But I was disappointed because I was looking for some heavy brutal stoner doom, but I got this soft rock stuff. As we received their new full-length album I couldn’t help myself to take a good listen to what these guys do.

Insider is Amplifier’s second full length album, and I must say that I quite enjoy it. It consists of original rock songs with a very thin layer of stoner distortions here and there. Clean parts can also be found throughout the songs, and everything is accompanied by clean melodic vocals. I also hear some influences from indie directions, although the faster tempo’s are rarely used. To give you an excellent idea of what they sound like I’ll quote a sentence from their bio; ‘Amplifier take Led Zeppelin, The Who, The Police, Mogwai, Massive Attack, Bowie and Brad – in fact just about anything of any quality, and exhale it through a cloudburst of guitar pickups and distortion pedals.’

 

Personally I find it an excellent album to lay back to. It can easily be used as background music, but I think that’s a waste because these guys have some very interesting things going on in their songs. And since everything is performed in a dreamy atmosphere, you are treated to a relaxing and comfortable musical journey that Insider is, while still paying attention to what is going on. Remarkable indeed.

 

I have a very good time listening to this release, and I think most fans of rock will agree with me on that. Just sit back in a comfy chair, grab yourself a cup of tea like these lads from Manchester would, or preferably roll a joint, and go on the Amplifier ride through your mind. Enjoy.