Great Haunting

Theres a long, rich tradition in heavy rock of evil being perceived as a lot more fun than good, and while thats probably not based in measurable fact, it certainly makes for a solid lyrical conceit. It clearly serves fuzz-obsessed New Zealand duo Earth Tongue well on their second album, 2024s Great Haunting, where Satan makes several cameo appearances in the lyrics, described as an ally to be feared yet respected, and delivered with just enough theatricality to make clear theyre joking while making one question just how much. Of course, when you make music like Earth Tongue, what else are you supposed to sing about? Guitarist Gussie Larkin trades in thick, elemental riffage wrapped in enough fuzzy distortion to make Saint Vitus nod approvingly, while drummer Ezra Simons hits hard and fast enough to add a punk undercurrent to the performances without sacrificing the duos heaviness, which is melodic enough to fall somewhere outside the boundaries of metal without sacrificing the heavy part. ("The Mirror" even includes passages where Larkins guitar and vocals briefly switch to sweet mode for the sake of dynamics before the walls of fuzz return.) Most of the time, Larkin and Simons sing in unison, which manages to boost the spookiness and the silliness of the lyrics at the same time, once again suggesting that while their relationship with The Evil One is just a pose, they have fun freaking out those who dont quite get the joke. Theres a similar tone in the music -- Earth Tongue are indie rockers who dove into the land of distortion pedals and massive volume on a lark, but they also seem to be having a lot of fun making like Monsters of Rock, and the gargantuan wallop of this band when they connect is inarguably fun and satisfying, even if when they sing "Sit next to Say-tan! He will never let you down!" it sounds like Hell let you copy off his test paper if you forgot to study. Good, sinister fun and a treat for those who enjoy hearing an amp turned up to ten for kicks. ~ Mark Deming