Phantom Glue make me scratch my head. It’s not that I can’t tell whether or not I like their debut CD – in fact, I’m really digging this heavy, distorted slab of jagged concrete. It’s just that they sound a lot like a cross between Electric Wizard and ’90s noise rock/metal faves of mine, Karp – a combination I never really though of, but works quite well. Really, the entire CD is like Karp between their Suplex and Self Titled LP phases with Jus Oborn from Electric Wizard providing vocals. And don’t forget the abundant doses of stoner rock solos that are splattered through the songs.
So what is it then? I’d call it sludge, as the music shares more in common with Negative Reaction than Orange Goblin, i.e., the songs move, but aren’t overly wanky in their noodling – rather, they’re low-end onslaughts of rage and aggression with a homeless lunatic shouting the vocals so loud and in your face that you can almost smell the booze and crack wafting from his breath. Song titles like “Gog and Magog”, “Black Tar” and “Scabman” only add to the imagery.
Speaking of song titles, the opening track is called “Ross the Boss,” which, of course, appeals to this devout Dictators fan, although again, Phantom Glue have a lot more in common with Sleep than Manowar.
I’m sniffin’. How ‘bout you?
