Doom-metal.com: Reviews

2004

My first experience with the might of Sasquatch dates back almost two years, to SHOD in Arizona. Their drummer at the time gave me a four-song demo which really kicked the proverbial butt, but it was pale indeed compared to their live show. I dug it and hoped for more. Fast forward to summer, 2004, and what should I find in my mailbox but a new album from...yes...Sasquatch. Direct from one of my fave labels, Small Stone, no less, the label that holds the classic music of Detroit Rock City in proper respect.

Unlike some of the other groups on the label, Sasquatch's sound dwells in the far desert, where UFO hallucinations always loom on the horizon and mythical beasts hum Kyuss' 'Gardenia' as they tear hapless tourists in Hawaiian shirts limb from limb. The classic rustbelt influence found in so many of their label mates is found more in the backgrounds of these Philadelphia and Detroit transplants, while their music owes its sound to southern California bros like Fireball Ministry, Nebula, Fu, and Smoke. This is pulse-pounding stoner rawk, heavy as hell, made by dudes who walk it like they talk it. You can tell the string benders in this power trio care about the quality of sound as well, 'cause the creamy tube goodness just about flows out of your speakers. The tuneage maintains a high level of quality throughout, though there may be a song or two that doesn't click ('Cyrus' in my case, because of the background vox) or another that stands above the rest ('Yetti' and 'Chemical Lady' - killer riffs!).

Small Stone has ventured far into desert territory, and its paid off big time. Sure this music will sound familiar, but as long as the songwriting and musicianship are top calibre - as they are here - you can put bands like this in front of me all day. You won't catch me whining about Kyuss, no sir! So if you dig on the above-referenced bands, and can add other groups like Black Lamb and Dixie Witch to the list without flinching, then its past time to add Sasquatch to your shopping cart. It's the real deal.

1. Chemical Lady
2. Roller
3. Dragonfly
4. Believe It
5. Cracks in the Pavement
6. Knuckle Down
7. Money Man
8. Boss Hogg
9. Cyrus
10. Yetti

Approx. 39 minutes

Reviewed by: Kevin McHugh

II (CD)

2006

Small Stone

With their second album, Sasquatch has produced a superb platter of unapologetic, ass-kicking desert rock. This monstrous power trio - foul-talkin', booze-swiggin', and mota-smokin' - cares not one whit for fashion. Instead they've chosen to concentrate on their chosen sound; taking the strong points of the first album and amplifying them through a bank of tube amps, yielding a distilled stoner brew that'll kick you before AND after you're down. Their first album was a keeper, but this one is essential.

Thanks to their superior songwriting, the album flows beautifully, going coherently from strength to strength. The vocals are clean, melodic, and passionate, the leads sharp, and the rhythm section propulsive. Of course the pluses we associate with desert rock - groove, passion, melody and tone, tone, tone - are all much in evidence. And the quieter tunes are just as good as the rest!

There's no point in dissecting the album, or calling out the best tunes. This is sweet, fuzzed out, desert perfection. Put it in your CD player, and press the pedal to the metal.

1. Let it In
2. The Judge
3. Pleasure to Burn
4. Barrel of a Gun
5. Seven Years to Saturn
6. Nikki
7. Off the Rails
8. Glass Houses
9. Rattlesnake Flake
10. Catalina
11. What Have You Done

Approx. 52 minutes

Reviewed by: Kevin McHugh