Review: Rainbows Are Free ‘Heavy Petal Music’
Rainbows Are Free, the stoner-psychedelic band from Norman, Oklahoma, released their first official live album, Heavy Petal Music. Recorded at the Summer Breeze Music Festival in their hometown in 2021 and was part of the promotion of Head Pains record from 2019. The recording is a step forward, capturing their energy and evolution and you can feel the band’s special vibe and sense of fun on stage.
Frontman Brandon Kistler’s unique vocal performance grabs your attention immediately. His voice defies easy categorization, landing somewhere between the theatrical wails of Danzig, a touch of Jim Morrison, and the gravelly swagger of Chris Cornell, with even a hint of Siouxsie Sioux from Siouxsie and the Banshees. His unique tone is crucial to what makes them so captivating and here, he pushes his voice to the limit.
Guitarists Richie Tarver and Bobby Onspaugh create a heavy, immersive atmosphere with distortion-drenched riffs that blend Iommi-era Sabbath with Jimi Hendrix, while occasionally diving into Hawkwind-style psychedelic weirdness. The powerful rhythm section – Chad Hogue on bass and Jason Smith on drums – drives the band’s massive sound with a mix of groove and raw power.
The recording features classics like Electricity On Wax, one of their best studio tracks, becomes more hypnotic live as stretch it out, letting the groove breathe, while guitar effects add a trippy feel. Are You Dead, my favorite track on the album, is delivered with pure aggression as their pent-up energy bursts forth, with Kistler’s powerful vocals and relentless instrumentation pushing the song to an unexpected finale.
Elsewhere, album opener Come with its creeping intro builds tension before erupting into a mix of power-punk energy, psychedelia, and heavy doom while Like a River (We Will Roll) sheds some of the studio polish for a rawer, more aggressive version. The vocals stand out here and the guitars have a sharper bite.
Every track has more energy, more power, and a rawness that elevates their sound beyond the studio versions.
The near five-minute Cadillac drives forward with a slow-burning intro before an infectious riff takes control. The live version’s raw, unpolished charm enhances the song’s rebellious spirit. Shapeshifter takes you on a journey, shifting tempos and moods with a spacey, dynamic sound. The live setting amplifies the song’s complexity, showcasing the band’s versatility before Sonic Demon delivers bombastic, heavy riffs and psychedelic overtones. The live energy elevates the track, wrapping the audience in a chaotic wall of sound.
The perfect closer, Crystal Ball, is a seven-minute exploration of the band’s sonic landscape. The live performance adds depth and spontaneity, leaving us wanting more as the band deliver a formidable live performance, taking full advantage of their talents to put on a great show.
Before this album, I knew little about Rainbows Are Free, but their blend of stoner, proto ’70s metal, and Southern psychedelia sounds fresh and exciting. Since their debut in 2008, they’ve evolved from their dark stoner roots into something uniquely their own. This recording proves they are made for the stage. If you’ve never heard them, it’s the perfect introduction – or the perfect reason to call them a classic of the genre.
Heavy Petal Music shows just how much they have grown as a live act. Every track has more energy, more power, and a rawness that elevates their sound beyond the studio versions. A band worth keeping an eye on in the vast ocean of rock and metal music.
Label: Ripple Music
Band Links: Facebook | Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram
Scribed by: Renzo
