Wednesday 23 September 2015

Belzebong - 'Greenferno' (Album Review)

By: Hunter Young

Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 20/10/2015
Label: Emetic Records


‘Inhale in Hell’ honestly is just one massive slow chug fest, filling every available space with some ridiculous throbbing string torture with a sweet backing beat. It sounds akin to a giant walking the earth, simply moving things aside without noticing. True evil blues this band has summoned, and you the listener, shall reap their rewards! From that slow, massive chugging into feedback and staccato wah picking, they have no problems slamming you up against the wall and rifling through your pockets for some loose cash.


‘Greenferno’ CD//CS//DD//LP track listing

1). Diabolical Dopenosis
2). Inhale in Hell
3). Goat Smoking Blues
4). Undertoker

The Review:

Like their forebearers Sleep, OM, High on Fire, to the newer degenerates of the Fuzz Gods like Dopethrone and Super Chief, Belzebong has simply crafted a riff mountain that will take you to the lushest sonic nirvana. From their haze covered lookout, they pump the most vibrant, riff powered  aural delights that aren't toned down for vocals. This newest offering, titled ‘Greenferno’, is for those that love to get high on the riff, with no distractions like vocals, lyrics, or anything that detracts from pure amp excess.

4 tracks long, they waste no time dragging you under the smokey currents issuing forth from their stacks, with the opener ‘Diabolical Dopenosis’ rocking your face right off. Using, but not leaning on, some sound bites from something decrying mother earth's medicines, they set the mood of a downtoned and downtuned rhythmic riff off that runs almost 9 minutes, giving you plenty of time to wind down and roll up. And from there, the album simply just gets heavier. ‘Inhale in Hell’ honestly is just one massive slow chug fest, filling every available space with some ridiculous throbbing string torture with a sweet backing beat. It sounds akin to a giant walking the earth, simply moving things aside without noticing. True evil blues this band has summoned, and you the listener, shall reap their rewards! From that slow, massive chugging into feedback and staccato wah picking, they have no problems slamming you up against the wall and rifling through your pockets for some loose cash. 

Belzebong play low, slow, and to the bluesy roots of riffing leads played with crushing rhythm guitar, splashed liberally with some wah pedal and fuzzy overdrive turned up with knobs ripped off. Its a huge sounding album, and it will rock your denim back into the heyday of guitar-centric psychedelics. The music itself is as close to perfect as you can get, balancing blues with the aforementioned heaviness, effects and production with legitimate talent, and darkness with dankness. You've heard similar, but you ain't heard better!

Belzebong hits a homerun on this album, laying down track after track of stone cold, rock solid heavy blues doom that will dig into your brain and make a nice little nest for itself. ‘Greenferno’ is going to rapidly crawl to the top of your playlists, so just let it happen.... roll in those cosmic notes as you see the planes unfold in front of you. Belzebong, forever and if you want my pick off the album, listen to the velvet rancor of ‘Undertoker', dragging you down a technicolor dirt road, where all that loose, grainy overdrive just seeps into your being. Oh yeah man, it's a fun damn time!

‘Greenferno’ will be available here from 20/10/2015.  Belzebong will be undertaking a European Tour from 02/10 including an appearance at the forthcoming Desertfest Belgium on 10/10 (info here). If you’re lucky enough to catch them in Europe, the band will have copies for sale.  Pressing info and Euro date below



Band info: facebook | bandcamp

‘Greenferno’ release:
- CD's
- Tapes (limited to 200 pcs)
- Vinyl:
         600 Black
         200 OLIVE (band color)
         200 SWAMP GREEN (Emetic color)

Belzebong Euro Tour Dates:

02.10 Würzburg / Immerhin / DE
03.10 Pratteln / Up In Smoke / CH
04.10 Freiburg / White Rabbit / DE
05.10 Strassbourg / Mudd Club / FR
06.10 Nantes / Le Scene Michelet / FR
07.10 Paris / Glazart / FR
08.10 Lyon / Hotel de la Musique / FR
09.10 TBA
10.10 Antwerp / Desertfest / BE
11.10 TBA
13.10 Amsterdam / The Cave / NL
14.10 TBA
15.10 Solingen / Waldmeister / DE
16.10 Chemnitz / Talschock / DE
17.10 München / Keep it Low / DE