Classic Rock magazine, that venerable monthly tome covering all aspects of rock from surf to stoner, described Skunk's debut album "Doubleblind as "what happens if you raise your kids on Grand Funk, 8-tracks and weed smoke".so with this writer coming from a similar background a review of said album seemed like a match made in heaven.
Skunk, John McKelvy (Vocals), Dmitri Mavra (Guitar), Erik Pearson (Guitar), Matt Knoth (Bass) and Jordan Ruyle (Drums), hail from Oakland, California and jam grooves heavily influenced by the likes of Buffalo, Truth & Janey, Cactus and Sir Lord Baltimore as well as all the usual 70's suspects such as Sabbath and Zeppelin. Skunk take these influences, born from a time when the blues was gradually making a transition into something harder and heavier, and mix them in with elements of 00's stoner/psych, creating a sound that, although not exactly groundbreaking, is nonetheless highly infectious and totally enjoyable.
"Doubleblind" is an album that delivers on all levels with Skunk serving up, over the course of eight gloriously addictive songs, wave upon wave of crunching proto-metal riffage pushed into overdrive by big booming bass lines and powerful solid percussion. The band's slightly blues tinted grooves, injected with scorching solo guitar interludes and coated in unique,helium toned vocal colourings, will be "manna from heaven" for anyone who thought listening to Grand Funk on an eight track cassette while puffing on something herbal was as good as it would ever get
Check it out.......
© 2017 Frazer Jones
This is a fantastic debut. I can't get that song Doubleblind outta my head! You can tell this band is highly influenced by the greats from the 70s and the songs really deliver.
ReplyDeleteLike the review says, nothing is groundbreaking here but the album contains great songs that you'll wanna hear over and over. If you like these bands that bring back the 70s in a solid fashion, check these guys out. I hope to hear more from them in the future.