Sparzanza
Into the Sewers (CD) 2003 Water Dragon Records
The first time I heard these maniacs from Karlstad, Sweden, was about 3 years ago, and they seemed lost in the desert. I can't remember the tune, but it was quite good, even if it followed a bit too heavily in Kyuss' footsteps. Well, we've had a whole backlash since then, Sparzanza recruited a new singer, and things have changed. For the better, I'd say. The group has lost none of its energy, but has increased its focus to the point where they may herald something different in the Swedish stoner scene. You'll immediately notice the bright colours of the comic book cover, which gives off a b movie, Raymond Chandler-esque vibe. Real he-man action, with tongue in cheek. If you know Sparzanza's label, Water Dragon, this will make perfect sense to you. The tuneage is emotional, surprising, edgy, and melodic, combining the best of classic rock with some lingering Kyuss tone in the guitars and a bit of a punk edge. Abundant background vox and harmonies add richness. This is not your typical stoner fare, especially from Sweden, though a bong would definitely be an appropriate part of the festivities. The album starts off at neck breaking speed with 'Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things' (rumoured to be the original title of the record). You'll be doing the whiplash, hair-tossing thing (if you have the hair to toss) to this overdriven, kick ass song. There are slower tunes, mixing things up in fine fashion, but you're never more than a few minutes away from some mad energy. My personal fave is 'Anyway,' with its absolutely furious guitar. The songs are all in the 3-4 minute range, so don't look for any rambling guitar solos. Not that I don't love 'em; I do. But there's a time and place, ya know? This is the place for a dose of pure, high-energy rawk! So if you dig the likes of Smoke Blow, Space Probe Taurus, Dozer, the Detroit underground ca. 1970, or even classic Fu, pick up on 'Into the Sewers.' You'll see that the Kyuss clone stereotype is a thing of the past. Oh, and don't forget the multi-media section, which has a couple of cool little vids, including one of 'Black Velvet Syndrome,' which doesn't appear on the audio portion of the disc, but did appear on the 'Mighty Desert Rock Avengers' sampler.	1. Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things 2. Into the Sewers 3. Pay the Price 4. Euthanasia 5. Kinddead 6. Kings on Kerosene 7. Little Red Riding Hood Anyway 8. Son of a God 9. Sparzatan Note: Includes multimedia section Approx. 38 minutes
Reviewed by: Kevin McHugh