Witch Victim, Sunset Rubdown, Black Thunder, and Wolf Willow
Witch Victim - Self Titled
Calgary’s Witch Victim have been pounding the pavement in their hometown for a few years, developing a loyal following with only their live show and a couple singles available to hear online. It’s been a long time coming so we were very excited to see their debut EP get released at the end of September. The five tracks on this self-titled offering have a lengthy runtime of 26 minutes which gives the EP more of an album feel. It opens with a delightful slow burner; atmospheric psych-pop permeates your ears and delivers an ethereal aura while you lose yourself in the steady groove of the rhythm section, the shimmering synths, and psychedelic guitar that brings to mind early War On Drugs. They move into dream pop territory for the next three songs with a different vocalist entering the soundscape which really helps keep it fresh as the two singers each give a unique sound to their respective tracks. There’s a couple loud, fuzzed-out moments at various points that give subtle nods to shoegaze but this EP is firmly rooted in dream-pop and psychedelia. It’s one hell of a statement for a debut and it leaves the listener wanting more as the final track speeds up the tempo and builds and builds until the 26 minutes are up and I’m hitting play again.
Sunset Rubdown - Always Happy To Explode
It takes courage to bring a revered musical project back from an extended hiatus, especially when the decision to disband came at the height of praise and critical acclaim. When Sunset Rubdown released Dragonslayer in 2009, they were at the pinnacle of a creative surge that didn’t go unnoticed, the album was championed across the globe and wound up on every “Best Of 09” list that mattered. Fourteen years removed from that masterpiece, Sunset Rubdown delivers us nine incredible tracks to open their next chapter. The album is more subtle and less frenetic than the music they were crafting before and comparing Always Happy To Explode to their past work isn’t fair. Fourteen years is a ton of time between albums so expecting the band to pick up where they left off is unrealistic. The album is just like its creators, older and wiser. It’s less raw but no less captivating and offers no confusion to who you’re hearing. For hardcore fans of Sunset Rubdown, this album is a gift as long as you weren’t expecting ‘Dragonslayer II’ and for anyone new to the band, you’re in for a treat.
Black Thunder - Good Batch
I had to do a double take when I hit play for the first time on Good Batch, the new album from Black Thunder. Cosmic sounds open the album and mutate into a synth driven rocker with no guitar. It took a minute to recalibrate my mind from the expectations of guitar based stoner rock mixed with acid fuelled psychedelia. Once I did, I fell in love with the new sound and realized it worked so well for this band who always leaned into prog and psych, the lack of guitar seemed like a logical progression. Just when I was getting used to the idea of a different sound from Black Thunder, the next track blasted in with a massive riff, bringing their signature aesthetic. They continue to use synths to their advantage throughout the album but the guitar returns to front and centre. Aside from the first track, Good Batch is classic Black Thunder, hard rock blended with psychedelic and prog rock. There’s never a dull moment as the Regina trio churns through these eight new tunes but I keep coming back to the opening of the record, change can do some good and the incorporation of synths is like a B12 shot for Black Thunder.
Wolf Willow - Soul Of Slippery Butte
Regina’s best kept secret is a twelve-piece country and western band called Wolf Willow. They craft timeless tunes from various era’s of country music history. Western Swing, Countrypolitan, and Honky Tonk are pulled as influences as the band is able to make their tunes sound timeless. These classic country genres are making a resurgence in indie circles but still remain forgotten to the millions of modern country fans who are actually listening to something more akin to pop music. Wolf Willow sound better than ever on Soul Of Slippery Butte, the album showcases some swagger as they roll through upbeat numbers that would fit right in on AM radio. There’s lots of nostalgia found in new music today but Wolf Willow does something dramatic by pulling inspiration from genres that were popularized decades apart. Western Swing is associated with the 1920s and 30s, Honky Tonk reached its pinnacle in the 50s while Countrypolitan was created in the 70s. The mashup of these subgenres of classic country hits all the notes and is a refreshing reminder that country music was once a credible form of art until Stadium Country went and fucked it all up.
- Jeff MacCallum