Geezer's sophomore release, ‘Gage’, is a hidden gem of a record that snuck out at the end of last year. With the EP only receiving a very limited vinyl run, this little heard release could now provide us with the next rising stars of the stoner rock scene thanks to this speedy reissue.
Blending the riffs of Kyuss with doom-laden vocals and a blues-based groove from a superb rhythm section, the five tracks here show off a variety of influences beneath a hulking veneer.
Ancient Song opens with a filthy, distorted riff, stops off at Pat Harrington’s snarling vocal and winds up in an epic bluesy jam, while Thorny is a lo-fi, country-indebted number.
Ghost Rider Solar Plexus, though, provides the album highlight with seven minutes of heavy psychedelia, a searing lead and pummelling percussion. Mix the dirty elements of Queens of the Stone Age with a swamp-bound Stone Roses and you're along the right lines.
Tales of Murder and Unkindness contains all the menace you'd expect from the title. Across the near 15 minute epic, Harrington's chunky guitar and distorted vocals make for a violent undercurrent. “When we come for you, there will be blood,” he sneers with such venom that it feels like a personal threat.
This sort of sludge-heavy riffing isn’t a mainstream concern, but rarely is that the intention. ‘Gage’ is a fine piece of work by a thunderous band worth keeping an eye on.
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