ZED

Volume RIPPLE

West Coast vintage doom crew cut a lavish sonic slab

If this California doom crew’s earlier releases showcased a cosmic flair for experimentation, their third full-length cuts right to the chase with 10 groove-powered bong-rockers that make no pretence of concealing their DNA.

While Take Me Home Again and Wings Of The Angel temper their over-arching aggression with slowburning blues ruminations, Volume aims straight at the heart of stonery 70s doom rock. Heavier fare such as Chingus and The End demand to be pumped through car stereos and beer-sodden backyard blowouts, both tracks erupting with fat, crunchy riffs and the bluesy howl of guitarist/vocalist Peter Sattari. More interesting, perhaps, are tracks like The Troubador, with its trippy psychedelic overtones and frenzied, breakneck climax. There’s an awful lot to digest here, including Volume’s cautionary apocalyptic lyricism and Sattari’s blazing fretwork. Well worth a voyage.

For FANS Of: Orange Goblin, Holy Grove, Down