Beyond Thule

Album review

A lot happened with Blue Snaggletooth after the release of their debut album in 2011 -- the group's original lineup splintered due to various life commitments, and by the time the group made their way back to the studio to record their second long-player, the only man left from the first edition of the band was guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter Chris "Box" Taylor. But miraculously, Taylor was able to recruit new players who've met (and sometimes exceed) the high standards of his previous bandmates, and Blue Snaggletooth's second effort, 2014's Beyond Thule, more than lives up to the promise of the first. Taylor and guitarist Casey O'Ryan lock in tight on these songs, and their guitar interplay is mighty, rolling out hard-hitting lead riffs and solos over molten rivers of thick, high-wattage tone. Bassist Joe Kupiec similarly manages to keep the basslines thick and nimble at the same time, no small accomplishment, and the drumming from Mike Popovich is an impressive display of muscle, groove, and precision, giving the music the epic scale it deserves. Once again, Taylor has found a band that understands the essential components of this fantasy-obsessed brand of stoner rock (if you were ever obsessed with Star Wars or D&D, you'll be ahead of the game), built from elements of vintage hard rock, boogie, and metal, and they've made it roar in the studio. The world-class riffage of "Reptiles," "Serpent and the King," and "Silver Goddess" will satisfy anyone looking for real-deal rock, the slower but equally powerful onslaught of "Sleeping Mountain" and "Gawkers" delivers something for the blunted, and the dynamics of the extended proto-psychedelic journey "Ahamkara" are an impressive and intelligent leap forward. In a scene where plenty of bands are content to rehash Black Sabbath riffs and call them their own, Blue Snaggletooth have a sound and vision of their own, and with Beyond Thule they've put it on plastic with plenty of muscle, energy, and fire; this band has the goods, and this album is righteous proof that they're one of the best things the Midwest rock scene has to offer.
© Mark Deming /TiVo