Wasteland is the latest studio effort from Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats, their fifth release that sees Kevin Starrs and the boys once again taking the listener through all sorts of doom laden psychedelia on eight new tracks that clock in for a total of just over 45 minutes of new material. No real surprises here, but I detect a slight darker sound and a laying back on some of the cute little bits of pop that appeared on the last record The Night Creeper, the tracks here on Wasteland seem a bit leaner & meaner, like the raging NWOBHM styled "Blood Runner" and the snarling "Stranger Tonight". Those trippy Beatles styled harmonies are ever present though, as on the acoustic tinged title track and the soaring "Bedouin", but it's the Sabbath inspired doom laden riffing of "I See Through You", "Shockwave City", "No Return", and "Exodus" that provides the real meat of Wasteland, the band digging in deep with massive grooves and even larger riffs, Starrs' high pitched, John Lennon styled vocals hazily floating over the intense bombast.
Not deviating much from the norm, Wasteland still provides for plenty of musical delights as only Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats can dish out. This one easily would have made my Best of 2018 list had it not come out so late in the year.
See more about this release on our recent YouTube show!
Track Listing
1. I See Through You
2. Shockwave City
3. No Return
4. Blood Runner
5. Stranger Tonight
6. Wasteland
7. Bedouin
8. Exodus