If "The Lifting" isn't one of the greatest examples of molten lava guitar thunder, I don't know what is...the song in question is the first track of the brand new album from stoner rock/metal/psych legends Poobah, Evolver/Revlove. Led by guitarist/vocalist Jim Gustafson, these Ohio veterans have been making heavy psychedelic music since the early '70s, and they are back once again to completely kick your ass with this latest platter of bone crunching madness. Joining Jim on Evolver/Revlove is Mike Fortino on drums, with the leader playing all guitars, bass, and vocals.
As mentioned above, "The Lifting" kicks things off in tremendous fashion, a massive assault of fuzz guitar riffs and scalding solos, the headbanging element kicked into high gear, signaling that Poobah are still a force to be reckoned with. The moodier "C'mon Let It Go" follows, the guitars lean & mean, Gustafson's vocals urgent and effective, while "Lucky" is a catchy hard rocker with some serious groove. The band blends acoustic & electric guitar for the atmospheric, bluesy, psychedelic stunner "Designing", the guitarist throwing down a wild, trippy space rock solo that swirls above the doom laden arrangement. Speaking of psychedelia and doom, they collide on the dark "Million Times", Gustafson's vocal soaring over mountains of guitar thunder, and the duo slide into crisp blues rock for the fun "Calculate", harmonica joining the fray to battle the stinging guitar solos. "Character" is another doom/stoner romp, the riffs crushing and dripping with fuzz, the lead guitars sizzling, pinch harmonics flying all about the mix for one hell of a killer heavy metal ride, and that 'go for the throat' approach continues on the bruising "Bad Place", another one of the albums heavier tracks. Back to blues and boogie for "Walking Shoes", complete with harmonica and slide guitar, and the fuzz returns for the psychedelic gem "Desire", 7+ minutes of guitar orgasms from Gustafson with Fortino pounding away underneath. Closing things out is the brontosaurus stomp that is "Burning in the Rain", high pitched vocals stabbing in and out over lethal doom riffs, the headbanging meter rising to 11 on this delightful stoner rock gem.
Many times legacy bands from the '70s and '80s soften their sound as they age, but that's not the case here with Poobah, as Jim Gustafson still knows how to crank out some seriously crushing riffs and molten solos, Evolver/Revlove ultimately winds up being a hell of a lot of fun and damn heavy to boot. More please!!
Track Listing
1) The Lifting
2) C'mon Let It Go
3) Lucky
4) Designing
5)Million Times
6) Calculate
7) Character
8) Bad Place
9) Walking Shoes
10) Desire
11) Burning in the Rain
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