Customer Reviews

Divine Propaganda

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Boo to me. I am a Wino latecomer, having caught on after the release of Spirit Caravan's "Elusive Truth" album. After a year of ingesting Spirit Caravan, I began to discover how truly innovative they were compared to your average stoner rock fare. There was purpose behind these songs and while they rocked, one could assess that consideration was taken when it came to issues of songwriting, tonality and overall delivery.

I never got to see Spirit Caravan live and after SC ended, rumors were abound that Wino was planning on disappearing from music altogether. Much to the rumor mill's contradiction, it was announced shortly thereafter that Wino had formed a new outfit of doom called The Hidden Hand so naturally, an eyebrow on my face was raised with curiousity and anticipation. As the months raced towards the album's release date, all kinds of comparisons were being made to Wino's previous outfits, as well as Motorhead, Black Flag and even progressive rock.

i have listened to this album several times since acquiring it and to be honest, the comparisons made are all pretty spot on. All of those traits lie within but there's so much more inside beyond those mere measurings. Inside, you will find 40 + years of rock music influence all tightly coiled into one outstanding album. Naturally; for the stoner rock enthusiast, Wino stands out as the most recognizable figure but even he would point out that this inspiring album was more the sum of it's parts rather than a one man job.

The most recognizable trait of The Hidden Hand's "Divine Propaganda" is the overall illuminati conspiracy subject matter but rather than go from the drunk punk "F**k the system" podium, The Hidden Hand paints a bleak portrait of a society ruled by an unseen force through a combination of aggressive and heavy music and uncompromising and questioning dialect. However, the lyrics don't merely command you to question authority but rather to investigate and accept the possibility that it's not "this administration" or "that administration's" fault, but rather that we have been set up all along and this course of action we have become witness to has been in the making for thousands of years with ultimate intent to drag us into a one world government and more specifically, a totalitarian police state.

Naturally then, the music is anything but your average upbeat sound with an optimistic worldview. Much like the drudging content contained therein, the music is rolled out in an equally focused and bleak manner. It is a melding of Sabbath-style chord progressions played with the skill of guitar master like Jimi Hendrix or Pepper Keenan and the aggression and angst of Black Flag.

This could get the nod for best heavy rock record of 2003. Everything is so well done and articulate and the overall message is clear and precise without being preachy or forceful. You owe it to yourself to investigate this album.

It's not necessarily a bad thing, but the Hidden Hand isn't just more of the same Wino. I came to this really wanting more in the vein of cosmic/psychedelic style Spirit Caravan, and was initially crushingly disappointed. I think the track order more than anything else gave me a very bad initial impression. In particular, listen to the samples of "Bellicose Rhetoric," "For All The Wrong Reasons," and "Screw the Naysayers." The music is much rawer than Wino's recent work. These, to me, will probably appeal more to the fans of the harsh Obsessed songs rather than some of the more melodic and psychedelic St. Vitus and Spirit Caravan songs. Throwing those grating songs at the beginning of the CD was a huge negative to me and I put the CD away for awhile, severely disappointed. The liner notes also turned me off-- it's obviously that Wino and crew are really coming at you from a far Left viewpoint, but they don't knock you over the head with it in the lyrics...or maybe I'm not listening that hard. Anyway, I don't buy CDs for political punditry and spend more time enjoying the music than analyzing the lyrics.

When I first heard Wino in St. Vitus, it took repeated hearings for me to really get it, and Hidden Hand likewise really deserves repeated listening. I still don't like the songs I mentioned, but for the Psychedelic Doom fan, the album is a worthwhile purchase, especially for the tracks that aren't sampled here. There are some songs that really come off great to me-- "Prayer for the Night" won't disappoint the Psychedelic fan at ALL, it a tremendous instrumental song. "The Last Tree" is great. "The Hidden Hand" sort of bridges the gap, and the rest of the album is really enjoyable.

If you're a Spirit Caravan or a Psychedelic Doom Metal fan, this album would probably be a good purchase. The album, overall, will deliver what you follow Wino for (even if you have to reburn it minus a track or two...) .... It's definitely not recycled SC, but Wino's heart is still in it and I think it will come through for you.

I bought both Hidden Hand CDs on a gut feeling, hadn't heard of Wino's other great bands, nothing. I had heard praise of Wino, saying he played the bass like a Giant, and the description couldn't be more apt.

Those who find the music depressing are misinterpreting it, I believe. From his view, its just a sad story he has to tell, but there is a lot of hope. Maybe that comes out more in the follow up album, but they are both great.

As for " a totalitarian police state" being hinted at, yes, he is talking about conspiracy. But he is talking about every day citizens becoming the sheep-herders, the society that polices itself, without realizing it.

The title of the album itself refers to the use of religion in the control of the masses, "We've heard it all before, all the lies and even more." Goes the song "Screw the Naysayers"

Don't judge this CD by the first track (all the rest are great), or by those who think it is pessimistic.
"Hidden Hand is here to stay"

this album rocks a must have for the wino fans out there......

A new project from Wino! Rejoice! How do you expect to sound?! Like what? HEAVY! yes. GREAT GUITAR? yes. GREAT SONGS? yes! Now after you order this -- get your hands on Place of Skulls new album "With Vision" where he teams up with Victor Griffin (x-Pentagram guitarist). It isn't available on Amazon.com as I write, but at Stonerrock.com will hook you up. And what do you expect that one to sound like? A stupid question.

As far as I'm concerned, Wino can do no wrong, and his new project is frickin' awesome! Heavy and fast with thought-provoking lyrics, this album will kick you in the guts till you spit blood and swallow your teeth. Doom doesn't get any better than this. Wino forever!

As a bassist I feel safe in saying that it is generally an ominous sign for a band when the bassist wants to start singing. There are certainly exceptions to the rule (ie. Motorhead) but it should be noted that the last album that the great Spirit Caravan (Wino's last band) released was the first one where they finally gave in and let the bassist sing a song - and then the band broke up! I mean, with the greatest voice in stoner/doom in the band, what on earth is this competent bassist with an extremely average voice doing singing most of the songs? IN additon, his lyrics are kinda hokey and awkward sounding forced rhymes abound. The music is still heavy and crunchy and the guitar playing is awesome. It's still a Wino project and worth having but the band's eagerness to get their message across seems to result in the music simply being a dressing for the message rather than something that forms a synergy with it and enhances it. Without Wino's guitar solos and his occasional vocals, this disc could easily be indistinguishable from a thousand other heavy bands we've all heard screaming about government mind control and the healing power of organic foods. It's a righteous message for these times, but the Dead Kennedys did it far, far better.

this disc rocks. i love it the music is as heavy as ever. a little more progressive than spirit c.but the rythum section is awsome. winos vocal is great.guitar is awsome very cool efects. he nails a progressive sabbath, then drifts into fu manchu-clutch teritory, with a little punk thrown in for flavor. could live without the other guys vocals, but its all good.stick to your vision guys, this stuff rocks!

This album, while musically masterful as they unleash a great onslaught of stoner rock riffs and all, was hard to listen to for me. Wino may be a talented musician, but cripes does he whine about the government a lot. I'm not saying anything about my political affiliation because it doesn't matter what you consider yourself, the political whining is so prevalent in this album it is hard to enjoy. I really tried hard to enjoy the great music they were playing but for some reason they're agenda to complain about the government really bothered me. Music is a huge part of my life and i take it seriously but when bands think, "hey lets use < (key word here [as in manipulate]) music to promote our political beliefs" it makes me sick. this is a free country and your fine to promote your beliefs but when it ruins good music like what was laid down in this album, it should be considered a crime. so to sum it all up, great music, too much "Wino"ing. When did music cease to be music for everyone to enjoy and become some political battlefield?