Customer Reviews

Reason to Live

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"Reason To Live" could be rock's savior. It's a return to what rock music is supposed to be -- an escape into groove. Sixty Watt Shaman proves that in the 21st century you don't have to be angry or depressed to rock; you simply need a firm belief that rock-n-roll never dies and confidence in the power of the riff. While on "Seed of Decades" the band seemed to wear its influences on its sleeve, on "Reason" Sixty Watt moves beyond those that came before them and combines it all into one incredible sound. You'll hear AC/DC, Jimi Hendrix, Black Sabbath, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Led Zeppelin, Clutch, Kyuss, Pantera, Corrosion of Conformity, and Down, but you'll never confuse the Shaman with any of those bands.

"Reason To Live" is 70+ minutes of pure rock-n-roll bliss. An absolute must-have for everybody on the planet.

On this, their third album, and second for Spitfire Records, Maryland's Sixty Watt Shaman have crafted a record for my generation. Not just for fans of a few select genres, this album is not to be underestimated. Compared to 2000's Seed of Decades, there are some abundant differences...

Needless to say, this album, through songs with constantly-evolving song structures, poetic and poignant lyrics, great riffs from all instrumentalists, even better solos from all, timeless performances and an epic production quality, should be put upon a pedastal for all to see, hear, intake, and follow. I would suggest this album for fans of Pantera, Down, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, the Doors, Stone Temple Pilots, Kyuss, Gov't Mule, Corrosion of Conformity, and too many other bands to list. Perhaps that's why this album might one day be looked upon as the classic it is. When you listen to it, you hear SWS, and yet, through the slightest inference in a riff, tone, lyric, or solo, you remember music you loved from before. That's what great music does. It brings what you loved in the past to where you are now, so you can live it again. Rock, and fans of rock in all it's forms, from jam bands to metal bands, will find something to never forget here. Do yourself a favor and check this out...you won't be sorry.

This album is like taking a bath in dirt that doesn't come off afterward. Stepping up the songwriting from their last album, Shaman try to take the stoner out of stoner rock by combining Motorhead bass riffs and vocals with southern rock boogie. Dan Kerzwick's rasp works well on the ode to masturbation, "One Good Leg" and the acoustic "The Mill Wheel." There isn't much here to disappoint. "The Horse You Rode In On" and "Our Name Is War" take Amercian desperado ideals galloping straight to your ears. While it may be derivitive, this is real rock - sweat and all.

This is one relentless rock album.It has all the power and emotion of any classic album and then some.The little tribute to cliff Burton is sick!These guys rock.

Reason To Live is the third, and to date final full-length studio album by Maryland Stoner band Sixty Watt Shaman, a band named after both Jimi Hendrix's amplifier and Jim Morrison himself.

The sixteen-track album, from 2002, was written after the band had finished touring with fellow Maryland group Clutch and the legendary Corrosion Of Conformity and it is clear when listening to the record that this had some influence on the resulting sessions. It was produced by Scott Reeder of Kyuss and Unida fame and released through Spitfire Records. The artwork was handled by Frank Kozik who has worked with Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Melvins etc

Their sound is a little more metallic than the average Stoner Rock band; as well as just in the attitude and energy of the performance, this manifests itself with use of double kick patterns with chuggy riffs or low screams with hard breakdowns added in with the usual big spacey sections and bass-heavy slow sections with deep melodic vocals to create a pleasant and compelling overall mixture of the two styles. On this album, the tracks will usually start in a more rock territory and evolve into a more metal form after a few verses. Additionally, there are occasionally slight grunge or southern overtones on some of the tracks adding further sounds to the mix.

Scott `Wino' Weinrich (of The Obsessed, The Hidden Hand, St. Vitus, Shrinebuilder etc) provides guest guitar on `All Things Come To Pass,' which is interesting, as the band and Wino had already worked together providing a guest appearance on Clutch's Pure Rock Fury album. Furthermore, this track also features guest bass from Scott Reeder as well just his production talents.

Highlights include The Title Track and `Horse You Rode In On,' as well, of course, as the aforementioned album closer `All Things Come To Pass.' The band are all superb musicians and performers and Reason To Live is a genuinely rousing and interesting record to listen to, the drumming in particular from `Minnesota' Pete Campbell is a cut above the norm.

In summary; Reason To Live is a musically strong and wholly enjoyable Stoner Rock record that incorporates a lot of Metal elements into the sound and features a very energetic performance and strong production job.

If you like bands like Kyuss, Fu Manchu, Slo Burn, Sheavy, Down, etc (and especially Clutch and Corrosion Of Conformity) then Sixty Watt Shaman are just the sort of band that you should check out. Furthermore, if you enjoy this album I would also recommend their second album Seed Of Decades, which was actually produced by Jean-Paul Gaster of Clutch.

If you like no frills heavy as lead rock n' roll, guitar licks that are flow like lava, soulful lyrics and raspy whiskey soaked vocals, a rock solid bottom end and most importantly, great songs then look no further. Long Hard Road and When I'm Alone display some nasty liquid guitar work from Joe Selby. Dan Soren's voice fits perfectly with the cacophony behind him. Mainstream casual rock fans need not apply. This is real and righteous. Those familiar with the "stoner rock" genre will place this slab in high esteem. It's a bit long, but there is no filler to be found. These boys put the heart into the songs and it shows. What a shame that they are no more. Great music to drink, smoke and grill to. Crank it.

... I'll just emphasize that "All Things Come To Pass" features Scott "Wino" Weinrich (The Obsessed, St. Vitus, Spirit Caravan, Place of Skulls, Hidden Hand, Probot) and Scott Reeder (Kyuss, Unida, The Obsessed, Across The River) and is a killer improv jam recorded on the last day of studio time. ...