Just because Dozer made a huge comeback last year (with one of the best releases of 2024, no less) doesn’t mean we should overlook Greenleaf. It’s quite the contrary. The two bands are intimately connected through the riff machine we know as Tommi Holappa, which has enabled him to deploy his entire riff catalog for over 25 years.
Originally, Greenleaf was nothing more than an outlet for its (temporary or occasional) members, a band born of a shared love of anything remotely proto-metal-related, with no particular pressure or expectations. But admittedly, things got serious upon the arrival of Arvid Hällagård behind the mic in 2014. So much so that Tommi simply started to operate a creative back-and-forth between both bands. Whereas his playing in Dozer is much more percussive, with Greenleaf the guitarist gives free rein to his blues desires, all enhanced by Arvid’s acute sense of melody and depth of character.
Their previous album “Echoes From a Mass” (2021) was both demanding and effortless for the frontman to write. As he was going through dark times, the singer experienced songwriting as a therapy, recounting the trials and tribulations of his own life with melancholy, making it the most personal Greenleaf album ever. However on “The Head & The Habit”, Tommi seems to have taken over the reins as the album overflows with 70s-flavored riffs. The opening triptych puts the church back in the middle of the village: the funky and upbeat “Breathe In Breathe Out”, the classic rock-tinged “Avalanche” and the exciting and haunting “Different Horses” are all reminiscent of the band’s early days. It’s not the first time Greenleaf gets so incredibly catchy and melodic, but they just managed to transcend the Hook by drawing from top-tier pop all the while keeping their heavily distorted guitars rocking.
“The Head & The Habit” is nine infectious singalong-ready songs with a strong emotional impact — possibly because Tommi knows when to get smoother and leave more space for Arvid’s melodies to breathe — allowing a bluesy airy break such as “That Obsidian Grin” to exist. Striking in both substance and form, these new songs are short symbolic stories revolving around the themes of emotional struggle and mental illness, reflecting Hällagård’s real-life experience of working with people suffering from addiction and mental health issues.
Nonetheless, this album wouldn’t have such a sonic impact if it weren’t for Greenleaf’s pair of drummers. Pair of drummers? First and foremost: Sebastian Olsson behind the kit delights us with his bold and intense pummeling (listen to the honky tonk-esque “Oh Dandelion”). The other “drummer” is Karl Daniel Lidén — Greenleaf’s early-days drummer, prodigious sound engineer and pillar of the Swedish stoner scene alongside Holappa. This is probably why Greenleaf considers him the fifth band member. If you find similarities with Dozer’s production (the airy riffing on top of a more explosive, powerful facet), don’t think twice: he produced the latest Dozer album as well as Lowrider‘s latest masterpiece. Well, he once again proves to be a real genius here too. What a treat.
“The Head & The Habit” is a jewel made of captivating, fuzz-infused hard rock anthems, standing out from the pack with class. Planets have finally aligned for the French crowd, as Westill festival will offer the perfect lineup for all Swedish heavy rock fans with both Dozer and Greenleaf gracing the stage on the November 1-2 weekend, allowing us all to enjoy two of the greatest recent releases from the European stoner rock scene!
ARTIST: Greenleaf
ALBUM: The Head & The Habit
LABEL: Magnetic Eye Records
RELEASED: 21 June 2024
GENRE: Heavy rock
MORE: Bandcamp
Last modified: 24 September 2024
