Reviews for Deeper High...

Cosmic Lava

Good to know, that the long wait is over and Detroit’s NOVADRIVER were able to record their second album for Small Stone. The past years have been very heavy for the band, due to some tragic and problematic circumstances, but finally the have re-ignited their rocket-booster and returned in best shape. "Deeper High“ is not very different from the debut release, maybe a bit darker and more matured, but it contains all the good things I love about this band: well-structured songs, which are rooted strongly in melody without being to pop-inflected, a double-dose of guitar and bass-driven heaviness as well as the significant and charismatic vocals of Mark Miers. The powerful opener "You Want Yours, You Want Mine“ shows, how moody and mighty this band can sound. But this is only a perfect start for an excellent album, and the following ten tracks are showing a band, which can write some real kick-ass tunes like "Roll You“, while "Dark Aftermath“ is a dark and emotional semi-ballad. This diversity is one of the reasons, why "Deeper High“ never becomes boring for a minute, and I like it how NOVADRIVER have embedded their 60‘s/70‘s roots (MC5, Hawkwind, Black Sabbath f.e.) in a yet updated and massive sound. So, "Deeper High“ is a fine example for an album, or better – a band, that plays smoking heavy rock, which still is full of soul, blues and psychedelic. And they write songs, which always will stand the test of time. "Deeper High“ is a timeless classic, too! Highly recommandable! (KK)
January 13th, 2008
www.cosmiclava.com

White Trash Devil

Small Stone Records is one of those labels that seems to release nothing but quality albums on a continuous basis. IÆve been a fan of the stuff these guys have been releasing since I heard Dixie WitchÆs One Bird, Two Stones a few years back and since then, IÆve almost never been disappointed with a Small Stone release. So naturally, when NovadriverÆs A Deeper High arrived in my mailbox, I expected some good old rock and roll from the Small Stone campàand thatÆs exactly what I got.

Straight out of Detroit Rock City, NovadriverÆs A Deeper High is deeply influenced by the sounds of classic rock and roll, but I also sense a little of the mid-90Æs alternative influence as well. For exampleàif Ted Nugent and The Stone Temple Pilots were to jam together, right after The Pilots released Core, that would be a fairly good indication of NovadriverÆs sound. They are deeply rooted in the old school, but are totally unafraid to shake things up with a modern edge every now and then.

Much like their old school heroes, Novadriver excels in writing an album full of quality songs that does nothing but rock your arse from start to finish. None of the tracks can really be singled out for analysis, as all of them feature their own special touch from the Novas. Songs like the title track, ôYou Want Yours, You Want Mineö and the epic duo closer of ôBlackoutö and ôWhiteoutö are all right on par with one another, but not in a repetitive sense.

Basically, this is one of those albums thatÆs very easy to listen to from the beginning until the very end. If youÆre having friends over to drink some beers, hit the keef, and chill out for a while, play this album. If youÆre going on a road trip to Las Vegas or even to the bandÆs hometown of Detroit, play this album. ItÆs the perfect companion piece for these types of situations, but more importantly, itÆs rock and roll the way it should be.

Novadriver is a band IÆll definitely be listening to again, and if you like your rock fast, loud, and groovinÆ...youÆd better listen to them as well. Check them out at Small StoneÆs site and enjoy.

Reverend Sick
June, 2006
www.whitetrashdevil.com

All Access Magazine

NovadriverÆs latest release ôDeeper Highö has the band returning to their bombastic era of their 2001 debut æVOIDÆ. It also marks the return of lead singer Mark Miers. Who, incidentally left after the debut to persue other ômusical avenuesö. Miers now rejoins the original core of the band he left. Billy Reed on ear splitting lead guitar and his partner in crime, Eli Ruhf plays rhythm guitar. The tight ass rhythm section is rounded out by the low end fuss of bassist James B. Anders and drummer Eric Miller. Together, these guys pack a heavy punch of psychedelic spaced out stoner rock. Once the CD starts, it sounds like the radios on and the lady DJ is talking up the track, ôYou Want Yours, You Want Mineö. Hell, this is driving music for the soul. ItÆs space truckinÆ, head trippinÆ, smoked out rock for the masses. Check out the Monster Magnet influenced rockers like, ôTurn To Stoneö (not the ELO song), æMachineö and ôRoll Youö, with an ear shrieking scream at the break. All of this leads up to a blazing guitar solo from Billy. This bass driven hot rod is actually about a Chevy Nova, I believe. Not only does Eric Miller shine on the title track, ôDeeper Highö, but I think itÆs him filling in all of those gaps with, cowbell, maracas and tambourine. The song ôStars After Starsàö is stadium rock, thatÆs as heavy as a sludge hammer. ôPush The Riverö could be a single, it has a great story. ThereÆs the ever present instrumental ôBlackoutö, that starts slowly, builds up and slows back down, only to explode like a supernova. But thatÆs not the crazy part, it blends right into the next and final song, ôWhiteoutö, another instrumental!! What a CD and what a production by Al Sutton and Bob Pantella. Novadriver makes the Motor City proud with this soon to be classic. It comes highly recommended.

The Rocker
\r\n\r\nApril 13 , 2006\r\n
www.allaccessmagazine.com

MONOLITH (Greece)

Start yer olÆ engines, fasten yer seatbelts and join a ride through groove and spaceö could have been written on a sign outside the place Novadriver is playing. They ride a spaceship built in Detroit in the late 90Æs with original accessories from the 70Æs. Their sound involves heavy guitars, supersonic guitar solos, groovy rhythms, wahÆs, space and loads of psychedelia. They have released 2 albums, ôVoidö and ôDeeper Highö.

So let me get one thing straight right away: ôDeeper Highö is NOT the music to get stuck in traffic with!!! This is a travelling album of the finest. This is the soundtrack to ride your bike, fly your plane, blow your mind, to move! Getting it on with ôYou Want Yours, You Want Mineö and already smelling the Hawkwind smell, you begin the journey, and the rhythm graps you. At once you are shaking your leg, as the groovebombs ôRoll Youö and ôDeeper Highö kick in. The grooveattack is topped with ôTurn To Stoneö which will make you reach for another beer as you think of getting that 70Æs moustache in your face at the moment it rocks through your speakers! The follower ôDark Aftermathö is stuffed with psychedelia and sweet melodies to catch your breath again and relax as you continue this journey through groove and spaceà. ænuff rest for ya so take another one if youÆre up to it. ôMachineö rocks and rolls with attitude and doesnÆt want or need anything else to stand alone and shake away. ôBury Me Aliveö comes with a bag full of riffs and them cool guitar solos that will get you going to show æem what you got in airguitar! You showed them well and so you get beamed up right after your performance to the colisseum to be among ôStars After Starsö and feel the way it feels to travel through a supernovaà Still got some energy left? Take ôPush The Riverö, another little tune to pass earth and visit for a while planet grooveà Approaching the end of the journey Novadriver takes you into a black hole called ôBlackoutö, letting you know how a riff can blow your mind away and expand your self as the solos weave their sound just enough to reach the limits and get lost in the ôWhiteoutö zone, where you will find your Monster Magnet, Hawkwind, MC5 etc. buddies drinking beers and chatting with the Novadrivers!

The journey ends and as this review ends as well ôDeeper Highö left me with the impression of a circleà Whole and complete!

Rate: 10/13

George/Fanatic
November, 2004
monolith.gr

THE CUTTING EDGE

Deeper High comes on the heels of some very sad news for Novadriver. Just prior to the recordÆs release bassist and key songwriter Jim Anders suddenly and unexpectedly passed away. Yet, this is only one of many setbacks that have befallen the band in the four years since their last release Void û and certainly their most anguishing. Separating themselves from the pack of other coined ôstonerö bands Novadriver has a somewhat spiritual link to the rock arena bands of the æ70s û even contributing to the AerosmithÆs tribute disc Right In The Nuts. The Michigan-based foursome are known for grinding out doomy riffs with elements of Hawkwind/early Scorpions-like space metal along side psychedelic overtones. Contrast the fusion landslide of ôWhiteoutö and the guitar overload of ôBlackoutö to ôDark Aftermathö with its hypnotic ocean-like wave of melody embracing vocalist Mark MiersÆ unique wail. It will blow your mind!

Miers, though almost out of the picture due to his departure after Void, is a large part of the recordsÆ strength. Returning to the fold just before the band went into preproduction on Deeper High, the singer struts his vocal prowess from the spine-tingling ôYou Want Yours You Want Mineö and bass-powered ôRoll Youö to the high-octane ôTurn To Stoneö and ôMachineö. Together with guitarists Billy Reedy and Eli Ruhf, Miers can move easily from the darker phrasing of doom to frantic Detroit garage. On celluloid drummer Eric Miller and Anders create a tremendous rhythm section. They fuse an impressive, almost Monster Magnet vibe in ôPush The Riverö and on the title cut seal a fitting tribute to Anders presence as the bass drives this mother home. Essential!

Todd Smith
Issue #62 - October, 2005
thecutting-edge.net

DAREDEVIL MAGAZINE (Germany)

I remember 2001 when I first heard of Novadriver...yeah, maybe a few of you will remember... right... it was their debut on Small Stone called "Void". Now... four years later after a long break Novadriver are back with a fantastic follow up to "Void" called "DeeperHigh". This album is just the right thing for every Stoner out there. It?s bombastic 70?s Retro Rock with some elements of Desert Rock and MotorCityRock vibes. Imagine MC5 on f**ing LSD would team up with Blue Cheer and Zeppelin... compared to their last album the sound really improoved and believe me... this stuff is hot as hell. It?s like a book you can?t stop reading, cause every time you listen to it... you?ll find something new. MotorCity Drug-Rock at it?s best... F**ck yeah!!!
September, 2005

METRO TIMES

There are numbskull riffs, thud-pocket drumming and (we imagine) nerve-pinching head flips. There are tangled-up-in-blues guitar leads flittering through wah pedals and scads of other Stooges finger-pistols. Shit, even the cowbell on ôTurn to Stoneö could be turned up. But donÆt yawn just yet, chief; this beast of a bong-loading, zit-squishing, porn-watching, beer-gut fueling, stoner-psyche record moves through the system like a sizzling rush of crystal meth.

Ably recorded in Ferndale, this 11-song disc (the Detroit bandÆs second) finds croon-howl-croon frontman Mark Miers back in the fold, eluding goofy metal posturing. On ôMachine,ö he and band sound positively pissed-off, and such impressive Bush-defiant phrases as ôDonÆt want it/DonÆt need it/DonÆt want your war machineö rattle your head long after the CD has been shelved, long after another motherÆs son has been buried in Arlington.

ôDark Aftermathö shows, um, a sensitive side; itÆs filled with lofty guitar melodies ready-made for open beers on the open road, watching the haunted Detroit skyline recede in the rearview. ôBury Me Aliveö couldÆve been an Alice Cooper ditty with Slash guesting, and the mosh-ready ôRoll Youö even kicks-starts with a cop of the DamnedÆs ôNeat Neat Neatö bassline (RIP Novadriver bassist James B. Anders). ThatÆs class.

The instrumental ôBlackoutö contains climaxes that hoary guitar heroes the world over strive for ù itÆs the aural equivalent of syrupy Peter North cum shots strung together in a video montage and viewed in slo-mo. Hence the finishing ôWhiteout,ö to which we imagine a spent North slowly toweling himself off. So, yes, Deeper High is a fine, fine record.

Brian Smith
September 21st, 2005

ROADBURN MAGAZINE

Sophomore album from ill-fated Detroit space lords.

"Deeper High" is the sophomore album from the ill-fated Novadriver, out of Detroit. Their stunning debut, "Void", released in 2001, was a twisting, turning hard rock/psychedelic riff-rock extravaganza, and it fused the effective simplicity of "Detroit Rock" [think Iggy, MC5 etc.] with interstellar psychedelica [think Hawkwind, Kyuss]. Internal disputes led to the departure of singer Mark Miers; the band couldn't find a proper replacement over the past few years, and their struggle to break in a several vocalists led to cancelled tours and lost opportunities.

Novadriver - Deeper High Fortunately, "Deeper High" marks the return of Mike Miers, and his distinctive, soaring voice is among the high points of the album. The same can be said for the songs; grabbing your attention with massive, high octane fuelled riffs, and then fleshing things out with acid-induced guitar leads. This is one helluva cosmic freak-out, pairing classic psychedelica to groove-laden, heavy rock. "Deeper High" will force the listener to indulge oneself in serious amounts of mind-altering substances, or at least make them feel like they did.

It seemed Novadriver was set for a bright return on the scene, but, unfortunately disaster has stuck. The sudden death of bassist James B. Anders, the band's driving force behind all the songs and lyrics, casts a dark shadow over the band and the release of this enthralling album - life is very hard hard for Novadriver.

Walter
August, 2005
roadburn.com

THE AQUARIAN

If a deeper high is what Novadriver were seeking, theyÆve found it. Their modern take on the space/psychedelic genre, blended with their more straightforward influences, makes them truly unique on the riff/desert scene, and for a band who took four years to put out their sophomore release, NovadriverÆs return is most welcome. Deeper High might just sound like guys getting stoned and playing guitar to uninitiated ears, but tracks like ôRoll Youö and ôPush The Riverö rock like Detroit hasnÆt rocked in decades, and even in their spacier moments, the band never goes so far out that they canÆt reel it back in. ItÆs great to have them back.

JJ Koczan
August 17, 2005

HIGH BIAS

Novadriver has been through the kind of shit most bands would rather avoid. Between 2001's Void and the current opus, singer/keyboardist Mark Miers left (and came back). Worse, bassist/songwriter James B. Anders passed away following the completion of Deeper High. So while it may just be me putting my own assumptions on it, this record definitely sounds like a triumph over adversity. The Detroit combo slams propulsive riff-rockers like "Machine," "Bury Me Alive" and "Turn to Stone" (cue cowbell) into the nosebleed seats and out of the park, as if it couldn't wait to start swinging. Slower cuts like "Dark Aftermath" and the sample-laced "Stars After Starsà" luxuriate in an expansive spaciness that's relaxing even as it blows your speakers out. The album concludes with the pounding, swirling, shimmering one-two instro punch of "Blackout" and "Whiteout," sending Deeper High off into the stars. This is psychedelic hard rock as emotional liberation.

Michael Toland
August 19th, 2005
highbias.com

SLEAZEGRINDER

Ya know, before I even listened to this, I was thinking about how in this new zero attention span culture of I-Pod shuffles and one-paragraph news stories, that bands like Nova Driver might be in the soup, 'cuz who's gonna stick around for an hour's worth of loping, druggy space metal epics when there's hot new celebrity porn and disco/death metal mash-ups to consume? Luckily, Detroit's way out-est blastronauts are one small step ahead of me, as smackdab between Atomic Bitchwax-y stonermetal speed trials like 'Roll You' and Magnet-ized Planet Caravan homages like "Dark Aftermath", there's a certified dope n' roll hit, full of cowbells, bouncy, Fu Manchewy riffs, a tasty 70's porn solo, and a meaty, smoke-along chorus called "Turn to Stone". It's massive, baby, and as Mrs. Sleazegrinder so aptly put it, "Finally, stoner rock you can dance to!" That's all we ever asked for, really.

The rest of the rekkid is good, too, bombastic and groove-y and fuzzy as hell, but "Turn to Stone" will be the one you remember. See ya in orbit

Ken
August 4th, 2005
sleazegrinder.com

ALLMUSIC.COM

Novadriver's long, four-year hiatus between first and second albums was a rather bizarre one. Vocalist/organist Mark Miers effectively quit the group to pursue other interests, presumably found them to be less interesting than expected, and then rejoined in time to complete an album -- 2005's Deeper High -- which, at least sonically speaking, behaves as if he never left in the first place! All good considering the Detroit natives' first outing had set a very good precedent; standing out from a rather stale late-90s stoner rock revival by brusquely shaking (not stirring) equal doses of classic rock, space rock, and their hometown's vibrant, proto-punk legacy around a shiny (heavy) metallic canister -- then spicing it with just a dash of those dangerously excessive jam tendencies. Here, as then, instantly foot-taping nuggets like "You Want Yours, You Want Mine," (an ideal, slow-building opener), "Roll You" (a brutal aural mugging), the memorable title track (affording plenty of soloing room for guitarist Billy Reedy), and "Turn to Stone" (simply a timeless classic rocker) come souped-up for maximum highway-driving enjoyment. And even though it eases off the gas pedal considerably, the semi-ballad "Dark Aftermath" is unconventional enough to keep the listener interested until the dirty garage-psych charge of "Machine" can restart the engines, and lead the way into the downright spectacular "Bury me Alive." A near-perfect example of Novadriver's fluid songwriting chops, this album and career standout does, however, also draw attention to the fact that, in a broader sense, the band still frequently comes off sounding like a sleeker, tamer, less gonzoid version of Monster Magnet -- as further witnessed by easier-flowing space-groove runs like "Stars After Starsà" and "Blackout"). Then again, Dave Wyndorf himself would be the first to admit to channeling these same musical devices from earlier sources, dating back as far as the late-60's; so that the inescapable similarities are only there inasmuch as such things are inevitably cyclical in rock and roll. Moreover, as the feedback creation, "Whiteout," fades us down to black, the feeling that lingers is how great it is having a new Novadriver album. Tragically, bassist and key songwriter Jim Anders passed away shortly after Deeper High's recording sessions, leaving yet another major challenge for the band to overcome.

Eduardo Rivadavia
July, 2005
allmusic.com

HELLRIDE MUSIC

Novadriver's previous effort, 'Void,' has long been a staple in my CD player, a perfect example of how to do the stoner/space thing and do it right. The band is simply a super-high energy, fuzzed-out musical force flying down the spaceways in your skull, creating timeless tuneage that matches the great bands of today with the giants of yesterday.

The trouble is, there had been such a long gap between 2001's 'Void' and 'Deeper High' that I figured the band had simply imploded. They never really toured as far as I could tell, and things got to be unnaturally quiet. That's why I was especially gratified to read about the impending release of 'Deeper High' some time ago. Does it match 'Void?' It most assuredly does, though it seems somewhat darker than it's predecessor. The band still plays that magical combination of 70s hard rock FM muscle a la the MC5 and Aerosmith and contemporary stoner/space by the likes of Qualone, 500 Feet of Pipe, Valis, Dozer, Phased, and most of all Nebula. You might even recognize some Raging Slab and early Magnet, say about the time of 'Superjudge.' Novadriver is once again running on raw rocket fuel, burning clean and white from the Indy finish line to the moons of Jupiter and beyond, finally hooking up with that fabled stoner caravan far out in space.

There's a sad note that brings it all back to earth, though, and that's the untimely death of bassist Jim Anders. By all accounts he was man of principle, a major force within the band. Let's hope the group can survive without him. Even though I didn't know him, somehow I sense that he would want it that way. In the meantime, pick this one up; I've got a strong feeling that its going to end up on more than one Top 10 list.

Kevin McHugh
July 12th, 2005
hellridemusic.com

LOLLIPOP MAGAZINE

Novadriver are an American kick ass band honing all the good shit about hard-fucking-rock into one big ball of mung. Packing down mid-tempo arena stompers like the children of the 'Nuge / Aerosmith '76 tour, the bad ass Green River side of grunge, and snot thick Stonesisms jerked through the long lamented Surgery or legendary Union Carbide Productions.

You'd have to be a true rock hater to not wanna see these guys with the rejuvenated Roadsaw and rehabbed Lamont. Fuckà these guys are the Midwestern Fu Manchu or the US corollary to the utterly wonderful, The Quill. Quill = classic Euro-Deep Purple rootage, Novadriver sups at a table well apportioned by Grand Funk Railroad.

But are tunes there? Are they? Yup. The guitar/vocal melodies sink a hook and work off the bass'es counterpoint to the 'ride-the-groove, steady-as-she-goes captain' drumming of Eric Miller and soulful hard rock classique singin' of Mark Miers. Like ATP these guys can weave a spacey heatwave-offûtheûhighway shimmer that'll sate any appetite for early Monster Magnet. These guys REALLY make me want to swap the guy up the road for his '82 Firebirdà.

See Greatdayforup, Amps II Eleven, Nebula, Lamont.

Craig Regala
August, 2005

STONERROCK.COM

The five-piece (with vocalist Mike Miers back in the fold, after a prolonged absence) keeps things simple, letting a good beat and better songs do the talking. I got whiffs of The Stooges, AC/DC, Dozer, Hawkwind, and The Hellacopters in NovadriverÆs 4-4 rock. ThereÆs a a pop element to their songs (emphasized by MiersÆ strong delivery), yet with a hard driving edge. YÆknow, the kind of honest, pure rock that should be on the radio. The kind of honest, pure rock you want to be listening to while you refinish the deck or work on your muscle car. The kind of honest, pure rock thatÆs best served with a cold six pack. And like all honest, pure rock, there are plenty of opportunities for solos, something Novadriver take full advantage of.

Though it would be easy to lump the band with the ManÆs Ruin catalogue, they donÆt sound dated. Good rock is timeless and NovadriverÆs execution is damn near flawless, whether busting out some cowbell on ôRoll Youö or slowing things down with the cosmic stoner jam of ôBlackoutö (or the following track, the acid drenched ôWhiteoutö).

IÆm not going to lie and say this is one of the all time great records, but sweet good goddamn thereÆs no denying that Deeper High is a benchmark for riffs ænÆ hooks fuzz rock. And as an epitaph for bassist Jim Anders, who unexpectedly passed away shortly after the albumÆs completion, you canÆt get any better. Deeper High shows five guysÆ love of music. Go get this.

John Pegoraro
June, 2005
StonerRock.com

Buy From Us Buy From iTunes

1. You Want Yours, You Want Mine
2. Roll You
3. Deeper High
4. Turn to Stone
5. Dark Aftermath
6. Machine
7. Bury Me Alive
8. Stars After Stars
9. Push the River
10. Blackout
11. Whiteout