Album
Type:
Full-Length
Date
Released:
30/09/2014
Label: Season of
Mist
‘Sixteen
Tons’ CD/DD/LP track listing:
1. Bull (07:57)
2. Potbelly (04:13)
3. Time Served (02:39)
4. Dummy (06:44)
5. #3 (02:06)
6. Woe’s Me (04:10)
7. Buzz (05:27)
8. Lines (03:15)
9. Riff (03:55)
10. Kira May (02:47)
2. Potbelly (04:13)
3. Time Served (02:39)
4. Dummy (06:44)
5. #3 (02:06)
6. Woe’s Me (04:10)
7. Buzz (05:27)
8. Lines (03:15)
9. Riff (03:55)
10. Kira May (02:47)
Bio:
Tobacco is sure not the only thing coming out of North
Carolina , USA
WEEDEATER was founded by bass player Dave "Dixie" Collins and
guitarist Dave "Shep" Shepherd in the harbor town of Wilmington about
the year 1998, after the demise of cult sludge act BUZZOV•EN. "…and
Justice for Y’all" created an immediate buzz, while critics were
struggling to label their sound. Most agreed that stoner rock, doom, sludge and
some crusty elements were part of the mix, which the band simply calls
"weed metal". "Sixteen Tons" was again produced by renowned
engineer Billy Anderson (EYEHATEGOD, NEUROSIS).
WEEDEATER proceeded to play live with strong acts such as CORROSION OF
CONFORMITY and ALABAMA Dixie
Dave, who played shortly with BONGZILLA and SOURVEIN, third album "God
Luck and Good Speed" hit the world in 2007 and shifted the band’s focus
slightly towards the stoner side. The latest full-length "Jason… the
Dragon" got delayed when guitarist Shep lost a toe due to an incident with
his favourite shotgun. When the sludge driven album finally came out in 2011
shows in the US and Europe cemented the band's reputation as a fierce live
entity. WEEDEATER have meanwhile signed up with Season of Mist for their future
full-length. In preparation the complete back catalogue will be re-issued.
"Sixteen Tons" will also be made available on vinyl for the first
time. Time to inhale another WEEDEATER cult classic!
The Band:
Dave "Dixie " Collins | vocals, bass
Dave Shepherd
| guitar
Travis Owen | drums
(currently live)
Keith “Keko”
Kirkum |drums on album (former member)
Review:
Weedeater
are one of those bands who everyone needs to see live at least once. Furious
drumming, drugged riffing, and the manic energy of “Dixie ”
Dave Collins, Weedeater are one of the most intense live shows you will ever
see. I've seen them probably six or seven times now and there have NEVER failed
to put on a great show. On to the review! With any reissue that has been
remastered, first and foremost the question is, how does it sound compared to
the original? That question is
definitely better but still unmistakeably sludgy. I'd be inclined to say that
everything sounds clearer and the mix is definitely improved. The vocals for
sure sit just a bit better on top. I actually like the production on this a
touch more then ‘Jason...The Dragon’ although ‘Mancoon’ is still one of the
greatest songs ever in the history of music.
Moving
on to the actual track review for those of you who haven't heard Weedeater or
“16 tons” yet, just go buy it you're going to love it. Opening with the longest
track on the album, “Bull” comes out stomping with elephantine fury of epic
proportions. Dave Shepard's guitar and “Dixie ” Dave Collins' perfectly balanced fuzz tones
assault your mind into mush right from the get go. No frills, no bullshit,
rifftastic sludge ensues for the duration of the track (and album) and the
immensely slow and powerful middle bridge section tells you all you need to
know about how influential Weedeater are.
The
sample that starts the second track “Potbelly” makes me laugh every time I hear
it, “I was born in South Carolina
‘#3’
boasts some old timey samples and more guitar freak-out weirdness. This is one
of the great things about Weedeater, they are never afraid to go out on a limb
in their music from this track to later ones like “Palms and Opium” off ‘Jason...The
Dragon’. A cool dark folk song, the sixth track “Woe's Me” is an oddly fitting
break in the aural onslaught and demonstrates the range Weedeater can display
if they so wish. The next track “Buzz” begins with a long slow doom vamp into
some of the heaviest riffing on the album. Committing fully to the riff like
many bands try but few really do, the simple yet powerful riffs here, draw you
into a mesmerizing trance of awesomeness.
The
second to last track “Riff” consists of shockingly great riffs or more
specifically a couple variations on the same great riff. Again, boasting one of
the things Weedeater is great at and one of the reasons they are so awesome, is
how LONG their riffs can be. It's really fun to hear extended phrases like this
and is surprisingly difficult to write good ones. The final track is
exceptionally odd with some interesting pedal tone riffs on bass not something
often heard outside of Tool's “46 & 2” and Mastodon's “The Creature Lives”,
from their album we like to pretend doesn't exist. Morphing into an extended
solo section and slowing to a close. A great end to a great album.
As
“16 Tons” comes to a close you can feel the monumental influence Weedeater has
had on so many of the bands we all love bleeding around the edges. In the
American scene at least, Weedeater and “Dixie ”
Dave's previous band Buzzov*en are hugely influential and have some of the
finest sludge on either end of the pond. If you haven't heard them check out
this reissue and find out why almost immediately.
Words
by:
Chris Tedor
You can pick up a copy here
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