Hidden Hand, The – Divine Propaganda

Just after hearing Scott “Wino” Weinrich’s vocals on a Probot demo track a couple of weeks ago, I really started craving some new music from the man. Fortunately for me, two days later Divine Propaganda by The Hidden Hand appeared in my mailbox. Woo hoo!

The Hidden Hand is Wino’s (Saint Vitus, Obsessed, Spirit Caravan, Place of Skulls) latest project. If you haven’t heard of any of those bands, put down the mouse and drive to the nearest record store. Wino created the stoner rock/doom bandwagon being ridden by bands everywhere today.

That being said, The Hidden Hand’s Divine Propaganda doesn’t far too fall from the tree which he planted. Lyrically, the album is more political and less religious than Place of Skulls’ album. Musically, the CD is dead on. While the style and songs themselves tip their hat to the masters of reality, the band never comes off as a Sabbath cover band. In fact, the band injects several different music styles into their music – including lots of blues and progressive moments, all wrapped in warm fuzz. A few of the tracks get a little long in their extended “freak-out” sections, but eventually they are roped back in and the rocking continues.

There’s so much here that it was tough for me to make it all the way through this CD the first time. Some of the songs are so interesting and heavy that I ended up listening to them two or three times before moving on. Any fans of stoner rock, doom, 70’s rock, good ol’ rock and roll or just Wino himself should check out Divine Propaganda.

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