Date Released: 24/06/2016
Label: Outer
This
is a fine example of well executed rock, with an excellent blend of influences
that don’t overstep anywhere to make the band sound like rip offs of any kind.
“Arctic”
DD//LP track listing:
1.Over
Smoked (08:36)
2.Cryptic
Black Sun (04:07)
3.Burnt
Ice (08:05)
4.Daewon
(04:57)
5.Higher
(03:23)
The Review:
I’m
well aware that every time your intention is to read a review, your expectation
should be that subject matter will trump personal opinions. You want to know
what the album is about, prior to putting it on the device of your choosing for
listening, or measuring your proper judgment of said album against a peer of the
realm, namely a reviewer from whatever your source of information is. That
said, I find myself perplexed with this band, more by the individuals that play
the actual sounds they taped. This being a debut EP, I did some research on who
these guys were, as I only had the EP to go by, which was given as a gift from
a fellow Sleep
fan. Digging beyond the cool as fuck cover art from Arik Roper (Sleep, Earth,
Weedeater) I hit a wall when I found references for these people on
skateboard related articles. These three dudes are pro-skaters. Pro-skater
defined as sponsored athletes, backed by a brand named Volume 4
(sound familiar?). And of all places, they come from California Oceanside
A
blizzard of flangered white noise along with numbed cymbals gusts in to prepare
us for what’s to come. Reverbed guitars that remind us of cavern echoes
compliment the intro before allowing the fuzz pedals to take over and reveal
the beginning of this 30 minute trek. “Over
Smoked” then gives way for the initial riff to further develop, as well
layered production from Jordan Andreen (Earthless, JOY) provides quite the lysergic
experience over the course of its almost 9 minutes. And I say almost, as the
band hits the brakes and shift gears mid-track to steer us towards stoner rock
pastures. “Cryptic Black Sun” lures
you in with 70s infused classic rock, cornering the listener to bathe its ears
in slow burning acid, leaving us charred with psychedelic euphoria.
As
we continue to dwell on the Arctic soundscape we can appreciate the
tripping textures on “Burnt Ice”,
which features heavily distorted vocals, a first on the record. The LSD-dipped
melodies mangle riffs with blues roots and fry them in blown-out amplifier tar.
A face-melting solo stretches well over half of the track, which serves as a
conduit between chunky power chords juxtaposed against hallucinatory hooks. “Daewon” bridges over the drum fill from
“Burnt Ice” and sways over to colourful
psych-doom for a minute, or 3, as organized chaos brakes out to throttle your
senses as the song progresses, throwing a spotlight on ‘Figgy’ who shreds solo
after solo as if he was hitting a perfect line of park benches, sidewalks and
the occasional obstacle. Much like a buffalo stampede “Higher” rolls in with the kind of bravado and muscle that was
apparently the norm for well-respected bands back in the day. That does not
last long, as the band surprises us with a turgid mass of crushing filth. Not
much is left on this hike and as we soar to the peak of the proverbial
mountain, a final sprint is made by the guys in an effort to conclude the
ascent.
This
is a fine example of well executed rock, with an excellent blend of influences
that don’t overstep anywhere to make the band sound like rip offs of any kind.
Definitely keep them on your radar, I would not be surprised if Heavy Psych
Sounds Records picks them up and issues a split with Karma to Burn?
One can only wish.
“Arctic” is available here
