Review: “Desolation” by Healer

Raising the poison chalice and drinking until they become immune are Healer, a Stoner Sludge Metal quartet hailing from Tours in France. Featuring in their ranks musicians known for their prior convictions in Verbal Razors, Toekan, Beyond The Styx and Crack House who wanted to dabble with something different, they got together at some point in 2024 and dropped what they promised would be the first EP in “Deconstruction” of a trilogy of records exploring themes linked to childhood trauma. Recorded and mixed by Benou at Studio Macrocosme in Saint-Avertin and mastered by Jonathan Nuñez (Coffin Dancer, Torche, Caveman Cult) at Sound Artillery Studio in Gainesville, the second record is titled “Desolation“…

…with flavours of bands like Kylesa, Baroness and Desert Storm, “Desolation” begins with the anvil heavy riffs of the spine juddering “Red Waves” and for a Stoner Sludge Metal tune, its not the low and slow weighty crushing opening that you might have anticipated. Instead the band lock in the churn and burn with a tasteful rumbling bass line while mixing up their vocals in a really interesting way. Overall the sound is not only raw but also loose and free feeling as if everything was recorded in one take rather than chopped and changed in a garage for stolen vehicles.

They say don’t drink and drive when you can get high and fly and as we all know, Red Bull gives you wings, which might be why “Shadow Racer” feels like some kind of eclectic or perhaps eccentric throwback to the sounds of the 1970’s. It still has the sonic punch of the opening track but introduces a strange melody to the sonic brew, the harsher vocal elements and blast beats cutting against the grain of that. By the end it almost sounds like something that was written for an old school Science Fiction movie and in that context it might actually work better.

After the surreal moment of wonder comes “Hindsight” which is far more direct with faster tempos and bigger grooves. The ripping vocals and scandalous riffs give the impression that the band might burst into some “Whiplash” era Metallica at some point, such is the urgency and in all honesty it could go on for another verse and chorus happily. Title track “Today Is Not The Day” has the first riff fit for idle worship of this collection, the guitar tone and drum sound being what weaves the whole record together as the band drag us into their hell kicking and screaming. The lead work makes takes us to “Songs for the Deaf” era Queens Of The Stone Age, the big bass sound enhancing that notion but it’s the harsh vocal parts and the melancholic melodic moments that give it the grit and integrity that makes all the difference [7/10]

Track Listing

1. Red Waves
2. Shadow Racer
3. Hindsight
4. Today Is Not The Day

“Desolation” by Healer is out 10th July 2026 via Fléau Records and Ace Of Wands Records