Review Summary: Doom With A Touch Of Fuzziness
The Cambridge psychedelic doomers Uncle Acid And The Deadbeats have been lurking in the British underground for 5 years now however with the success of 2013’s Mind Control the band have been slightly exposed to the blinding light of the mainstream. They still remain a relatively unknown band with a shroud of mystery about them and with the aptly named new album, ‘The Night Creeper’, Uncle Acid will stalk you through a trip of dark fuzziness and weird soundscapes.
Psychedelic tones play an integral part of Uncle Acid’s music and they undeniably continue to utilize its misty effect in The Night Crawler. A large part of this stoner feel is down to K.R. Starrs’ voice. It constantly sounds as if a creepy Ozzy Osbourne is high out of his mind while singing into a muffled microphone however this impacts the music greatly. Throughout the nine and a half minutes in the secluded ‘Slow Death’, his voice is so distant that it’s like he’s echoing from the back of your head- a sign of great production. His lyrics also play homage to all kinds of eeriness with lines such as “I am the darkness; I am the night/ sober up slowly as night turns into day” in ‘Downtown’ and the brilliant bridge of “I know you love murder nights” in ‘Murder Nights’.
There are some seriously great riffs from Yotam Rubinger and Starrs in Uncle Acid’s forth album where each evokes a different genre of music. Doom metal can be found prominently in tracks such as ‘Pusher Man’ where the constant lumber of instruments comes colliding together during the chorus. A proggy groove leads you deeper down the rabbit hole in the sneaky title track that only ever breaks to reveal a twirling guitar hook or keyboard solo. Aside from these trippy visions, Uncle Acid still prove that they’re a proper rock ‘n’ roll band during ‘Inside’. Though clearly inspired by our overlords Black Sabbath, ‘Inside’ still remains defiant, distorted and downright evil.
Dean Millar (bass) and Thomas Mowforth (drums) are mainly present to provide a backbone to Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats’ music however they do slumber out of the darkness on occasion. Millar’s bass is tuned down to a mere rumble during most of the album however this is effective in offering additional weight to the higher pitched vocals during the opening track: ‘Waiting For Blood’. All instruments come together as one in a perfect rhythm during the outstanding ‘Melody Lane’. Uncle Acid have encapsulated everything they are great at in this song which include, but not limited to: a doomy retro groove that resonates throughout the song, spinning solo’s from keyboards and guitars and a hazy voice to capture the discomforting tone to their stoner music. The vocals and classy instrumentation stick in your brain like a nightmare that you cannot wake up from.
The Night Crawler has surpassed their previous album, ‘Mind Control’ and any other album they have created. It’s heavier, darker, more twisted and generally more professional. To mix together distorted instruments with a numinous voice for the outcome to be a crisp sound, without compromising the fuzzy atmosphere is simply pure class.
