Finnish fuzz rock quartet Heezer have released their highly anticipated sophomore album Stereolith. Hailing from Imatra, the four-piece delivers an impressive and versatile collection that brings together the traditions of stoner rock with infectious choruses and memorable melodies. Thick, fuzz-laden tones and driving riffs keep the record firmly rooted in organic rock, while its unexpected melodic elements give the album plenty of character.
On Stereolith, Heezer seamlessly combine the raw energy of desert rock and stoner with the melodic traditions of classic rock. The band’s vocal arrangements are enhanced by backing vocals from Heikki Pöyhiä, while the album closing track “Desert” features soulful saxophone by Aino Heikkonen. Stereolith is available on both CD and vinyl here.
The band approached their second full-length with a considerably more meticulous process than their 2022 debut Sungrinder. Songwriting began immediately after the release of the first album, with a series of singles and the Mushroomhill Boogie Tapes EP (2023) serving as an important stepping stone towards the new record.
“We approached the second album from a completely different starting point than the debut,” explains drummer Ville Häsä. “The band had only been together for a short time when we made the first album, and the songs were mostly composed by jamming together. We even arranged some of them in the studio. We didn’t use a click track, and that sense of freedom and excitement is still very audible on the record.”
With Stereolith, it was time to take things up a few notches, and focus on professional production:
“This time, we wanted to do things properly, with a solid production at a top-level studio and plenty of attention given to pre-production. In fact, we recorded the songs three times: first with Sami and me in my home studio, then with the whole band alongside Kimmo Koskinen, and finally at Petrax Studios with Miitri Aaltonen. By then, the songs were deeply ingrained in us and the arrangements were solid. We had also played dozens of shows together, so the chemistry between us had developed considerably. Still, we wanted to preserve the approach that made the debut feel authentic and energetic, so all the basic tracks were recorded live.”
On Stereolith, Heezer manages to appeal both to underground rock enthusiasts and listeners drawn to strong melodies and memorable hooks. “Stone I Am”, chosen as the album’s lead single, is a prime example of Heezer’s ability to bring seemingly different musical worlds together.
“The riffing in ‘Stone I Am’ was inspired by Down, and the song sat in the vault for quite some time before all the pieces finally fell into place,” says guitarist Ville Räsänen. “Once they did, it became pure Heezer. We made the arrangement more direct in the studio, and Miitri Aaltonen came up with the pulse in the verses, which turbocharged the groove even more!”
Singer-guitarist Sami Kääriäinen says the lyrics grew out of the twists and turns of the human mind:
“The spark for the lyrics came when a friend asked me if I know that feeling when you’re so pissed off that you’re past the point of even raging about it. When the frustration gets so massive that you simply stop caring. And yeah, I’ve been there. There’s a bit of dark humour in it – the idea of being so numb to pain that you can only laugh at it.”
“Stereolith” tracklist:
1. Horse
2. This Town
3. Stone I Am
4. Let It Burn
5. Moonshine
6. Mountain
7. Crazy
8. The Van
9. Desert
With Stereolith, Heezer take the sound and songwriting of their earlier work several steps forward without sacrificing the raw grit that defines the band. The result is an album where fuzz-drenched heaviness, memorable melodies and an unmistakable DIY spirit come together in a surprisingly diverse package.
The band has enjoyed an active summer of live shows, winning over rock audiences both on streaming platforms and on stage. Heezer’s next show will take place at Fuusio Fest in Turku on August 14, with Swedish fuzz rockers Le Mondays and Katkos also on the bill. Further information and tickets are available here.
Heezer line-up:
Sami Kääriäinen – vocals, guitar
Ville Räsänen – guitar
Antti Vesikko – bass
Ville Häsä – drums
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