If you like any of the following: Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age, Stoner Metal, Classic Rock, Grunge, Helmet, cowbell, then you’re sure to dig “Old Gods,” the 2019 album from Valley of the Sun. There’s plenty of that bovine percussion accessory to keep Christopher Walken happy, but more importantly, the songs just work. VotS prove that music can be built on simple foundations, but still be infused with meaning and resonance.

It sounds like they stick mainly to the dots of on the guitar fretboards. . . there are multiple tracks where the root of the riff seems to shift only a step apart. But this isn’t the Ramones here; there’s depth, dimension, and hazy vibe. They do some interesting things with alternate chord shapes, and with cool leads over the top. The simplicity is only noticeable if you look for it.
The songs range from long to average, and the album breaks things up with a few short instrumentals. These are somewhat underdeveloped; doing nothing special on their own, but they absolutely help with the overall flow of the full record.
Highlight tracks: “Into the Abyss” and absolutely “Dreams of Sands.” All day on that last one.