“Dungeon Vision” marks a significant evolution for Earth Tongue, an album that functions as a high-fidelity descent into a world of fuzzed-out mysticism and geometric precision. In this sophomore outing, the New Zealand duo of Gussie Larkin and Ezra Simons has crafted a work that feels remarkably disciplined despite its heavy, psychedelic veneer. By stripping back the unnecessary ornamentation of modern heavy rock, they have unearthed a sound that is both primordial and strangely futuristic. The record benefits immensely from the collaborative production of Ty Segall alongside the band, a partnership that has resulted in a sonic profile that is gritty, immediate, and pulsating with a specific kind of analog warmth.
Recorded within the creative corridors of Altamira Sound and Harmonizer Studios in Los Angeles, the album carries the unmistakable DNA of its environment. The engineering work of Rob Shelton and Ty Segall, captures a live energy that many studio-bound projects lose. A pivotal element of this new sonic identity is the treatment of the vocals. Where earlier releases often buried the voices beneath a thick layer of ethereal reverb, Segall’s mixing style prioritizes a striking clarity. By encouraging complex four-part harmonies and favoring raw, emotional performances over sterile perfection, the production brings a human vulnerability to the center of the storm. This clarity is bolstered by high-end analog signal paths that carve out a dedicated frequency space for the voices, ensuring they pierce through the distorted architecture of the instrumentation.
The journey begins with “Dungeon Vision,” which immediately establishes the album’s preoccupation with optical metaphors and subterranean depths. It flows into “Demon Cam,” a track that showcases the band’s ability to turn a repetitive, driving riff into something hypnotic rather than monotonous. The contribution of additional guitars and synthesizers by Herman adds a layer of cosmic texture that elevates tracks like “Flashlight” and “Body of Water,” where the sound expands to fill a vast, cavernous space. This expansion is grounded by the newfound vocal presence, which acts as a navigational guide through the record’s darker corridors.
As the record progresses, the duo explores the intersection of the occult and the technological. “Watchtower” and “Orbit of a Witch” lean into a slower, more deliberate heaviness, where the vocal melodies provide a shimmering light against the dense, rhythmic architecture. The technicality of their songwriting is perhaps most evident in “Symmetry Dripper,” a piece that balances angular complexity with a catchy, visceral hook. This is followed by the sheer force of “1000 Curses,” a track that feels like a concentrated burst of garage-psych energy.
The album’s final act delves into a series of increasingly intense vignettes. “Silver Eye” and “Living Hell” offer a study in tension and release, bolstered by Segall’s expert mixing which ensures that the low-end remains punchy without swallowing the intricate vocal dissonance. The record begins its climb toward a fever pitch with “Harvester,” a track that exemplifies the band’s gift for building momentum out of lean, mean instrumental motifs. The experience culminates in “Ritual,” a closing statement that feels like the logical conclusion of the album’s thematic arc, leaving the listener in a state of ringing, satisfied silence.
Mastered with a keen ear for dynamic range by JJ Golden, ‘Dungeon Vision’ stands as a testament to the power of the duo format when pushed to its absolute limit. Earth Tongue has created a record that is articulate in its heaviness and intelligent in its construction, eschewing the clichés of stoner rock for something far more idiosyncratic and compelling. It is a brilliant, distorted vision of what can be achieved when the raw spirit of garage rock meets the disciplined mind of the progressive auteur.
Find out more by visiting Bandcamp or In The Red Records.
