Review Summary: The veterans show the younger generation how it's done.
Sixteen years have passed since Bongzilla last graced us with a studio album. The pioneering weedcentric stoner/sludge metal act entered a hiatus right before the style they’ve been developing became more popular than ever. Thankfully, the group reconvened in 2015, touring a number of times around the world. Six years later, the trio’s latest epic,
Weedsconsin finally saw the light of day. As expected, we receive a serious dose of raw, murky riffs, alongside hellish, throat ripping growls.
Bongzilla always crafted interesting grooves and less conventional rhythm breaks for the genre they play. For example, ‘Free the Weed’, ‘Sundae Driver’ and ‘Earth Bong/Smoked/Mags Bags’ feature several tempo shifts, as well as complex drum patterns and fills. Amid the crushing riffs, the band toys with a number of build-ups and changes to melodic guitar leads. These tweaks, together with the cool, pile driving moments form some of their tightest tunes so far. Meanwhile, for a more classic approach, ‘Space Rock’ uses that drugged out repetition, where the main riff is being pounded in your head for minutes on end. The switch to the intense verses is a welcomed addition to the song, as they occasionally snap you out of that mesmerizing atmosphere. Moreover, ‘Gummies’ is one of the hardest hitting rockers in the band’s catalog. While listening to it, I just want it to go heavier and heavier, until tearing the PA. I am happy to see the band just as engaged, powerful and fun as they were in the early to mid ‘00s. As a trio, they sound even tighter than before. Other than this, just listen to the LP, it’s attentively crafted and fun.
