Album Notes

Hypnopilot - Final EP
Review by John Pegoraro (StonerRock.com)
Self Released
Release date: 2009


Hypnopilot, we hardly knew ye. Over the course of two albums, the Calgary-based band may not have shown a whole mess of originality but they were certainly consistent with their stoner rockin’. For whatever reason, the band’s opted to call it a day. Groups come and go all the time (if you listen carefully, you can probably hear your local riff slingers fight for the last time) so I can’t get choked up about a band that I listened to for review purposes only. I can, however, compliment them for going out on a strong note. While Hypnopilot and Evergreen both had quite a bit of “This is good, but I’ve heard it before” moments, Final EP has the band finally taking their love of Fu Manchu and Clutch and making something a little more unique out of it. There’s plenty to like about “Rolling On” and “Where the Sun Is King,” but third track “Winter’s Last Breath” is where it’s at. I’d play this instrumental to people who want to know what stoner rock was all about, except I wouldn’t want to bum them out when they find out that the band in question is no more. Again, this is free, so there’s no reason why you shouldn’t give a once hardworking, now defunct group 17 minutes of your time.