ORIGINAL RELEASE - VERY LIMITED QUANTITIES!!
SuperGiant - DEMO EP
Review by Tim Emswiler (StonerRock.com)
Self-released/Self-produced
Available now
Now, I’ve never been to Albuquerque, New Mexico. In fact, I haven’t even come close, but when I found out that SuperGiant hails from those parts, my mind immediately assumed that I would hear some fat, fuzzy, smoke-wreathed chords, some peyotian lyrics, and that kinda head-down determination to rock blended with just enough space to keep the mental pores open and provide a break from the hair-throwing. This is because I am psychic. And this is exactly what I got.
Now, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t hear a touch of the Kyussian here, but I’d be hard-pressed to think of a band that embodies what I think of as “stoner rock” who avoids this favorite of all name drops. And SuperGiant does indeed embody that, but there is a vibe here that makes this unique, and (more importantly) rewards repeated listens. A big part of that vibe comes courtesy of Joel Rogers’ vocals, which are neither growly, guttural, shrieking, or piercing. They are, instead, somewhat understated, with an undertone of darkness that makes these songs more haunting than your run-of-the-mill retrobates. In fact, I’ve been beating my brains out all day trying to figure out who he reminds me of, without success, unless any of you know Scab Cadillac.
Also contributing to the vibe are the stylistic swings between songs: “Devil, Jesus and Me,” my favorite track, has a menacing swagger that The Lizard King would have appreciated, while “Sphere Mirror” is a Blue Cheer-y blooze with feedback-bleeding guitar work that could only have made he happier if it had been about six minutes longer. We get some of the almighty flange, lest we forget what territory is being mined here. We get some rockers. And, in closing track “War for Peace,” the band gets political. Never a bad thing in these weird times. Highly recommended.
*BIO****************
After only two months of forming SuperGiant, intense rehearsals and writing paid off. On December 9th, 2005, local heros Black Maria offered SuperGiant their first gig, an opening slot with two well-known, national acts... Weedeater and Jumbo's Killcrane.
By February 2006, after less than five months of playing together, the band had eight tunes together for a demo EP. On March 19, SuperGiant recorded live at Sight 16 Studios with engineer Sid Garcia in the booth. Due to financial limitations, these songs were recorded in one take. And the entire CD was recorded and mastered for a mere $300. A few vocals overdubs were done, yet the raw and psychedelic, live sound remain the core of what is heard on the disc. This self-produced and self-released EP aims at resurrecting the raw purity of rock 'n' roll from it's grave.
Currently SuperGiant is working on new material, playing shows and planing to record a debut full-length sometime in the near future. In short span of one year, SuperGiant has shared the stage with Pearls and Brass, Dark Skies, IronHead, Graves at Sea, The Trampolines, Honky, Fireball Ministry, Jason and the Argonauts and Beck.
SuperGiant is
Kyle Erikson - Bass
Gary Chavez - Drums
Joel Rogers - Vocals
Jeremy McCollum - Guitar
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