Kallohonka : "Lazer Blood"

This band claims to be slug metal. Slug metal is nothing like sludge metal. In fact, it is more of a punk metal hybrid. The vocals are yelled more like punk. There is a hint of rust to what they are doing here, and only judging by the first track makes it hard to predict where it is going from here. I do appreciate the psychedelic trappings on the edges of the song. Granted, Gwar started off as more of a punk band, but these kids are more spazzed-out punk with very little metal. More of a metal influence on drug punk. They have heard a few Iron Miaden album atry to write galloping guitar harmonies that get overtaken by the sonic oddness. 

"DMT" is darker and does lend some weight to my claims that they are a drug band. The freaked-out scowl of the vocals is endearing, but it begins to cast a uniform shadow over the overall feel of these songs by the third track. Metal works better on drugs than punk rock, despite punks drug ridden history. But compare the Sex Pistols to Black Sabbath, and it's no contest. The garage rock element to their playing limits what they have the prowess to accomplish. The guitar shows the most capacity for melody; the drumming is a little sloppy. 

Most of ht song circles the drain at the three-minute mark, which works. "Heaven's Gate" finds a more deliberate stomp, but it is hard to ignore that some earlier sections of the song are a total mess. This is also the first song that finds the sluig crossing into sludge. The vocals improve on 'Pyschic Surgery." Though the riffs are angular and wonky. "Leeches" is another mess that finds its reach exceeding its grasp. They are going for more of a 70s boogie on the last song. They are one of the oddest stoner punk bands I have heard in some time, which is endearing unto itself. I will give this album a 7, if you smoke lots of weeds and lsiten to punk you will get the joke.

pst95