Review Summary: Using every drop of gasoline
Five years after journeying into space for 2018’s Hymn of the Cosmic Man, Fire Down Below crashes back down to Earth for their third full-length. As suggested by the title, Low Desert Surf Club sees the band sticking to their Kyuss meets Elder brand of desert rock with continued emphasis on ultra-fuzzy guitars, driving rhythms, and swaggering vocals. While that outlook may put it closer to the vibes of 2017’s Viper, Vixen, Goddess, Saint, they’ve picked up some tricks in the years between.
There’s a strong commitment to the desert aesthetic even on the more orthodox stoner metal numbers. “Cocaine Hippo” and “California” set the stage nicely with fiery charges that evoke long highway driving, the latter also including lyrics paying tribute to the region’s famed generator parties. The more jagged grooves on “Airwolf” are also tight and “Here Comes the Flood” presents an epic flavor with its bass-driven plod and trippy guitar flourishes.
With the band also having a knack for tempering their sound with solid dynamics, it’s fun to see them dip into more outside influences. “Surf Queen” certainly lives up to its title with plenty of Dick Dale-style playing to go around and “Hazy Snake” explores those Elder tendencies with its atmospheric prog venturing. It all culminates with the closing “Mantra,” a sixteen-minute jam anchored by a funky bounce somewhere between Yawning Man and Brant Bjork’s solo work that manages to stay at just the right amount of meandering.
Overall, Fire Down Below maintains their track record of quality desert metal with Low Desert Surf Club. This approach is the sort that could look like a generic pastiche on paper but is elevated by strong personality and a respectful amount of romanticization. I would love to see them dig even further into some of those outside excursions but this is ultimately another immersive adventure.
