Mystery Dudes - Exit Through the Wormhole

 

 

Mystery Dudes - Exit Through the Wormhole
Electric Valley Records - June 2022
Stoner, Psych, Fuzz, Punk
Rated: *****

Cruising in from Oslo, Norway are the Mystery Dudes with their debut LP, "Exit Through the Wormhole". Wielding righteous riffs coated in groove and fuzz to spare, Mystery Dudes deliver a high-octane stoner rock classic across eight tracks. Reminiscent of but standing apart from acts like Fu Manchu and American Sharks, "Exit Through the Wormhole" is a shot of adrenaline that knows how to have fun while melting faces off. Opener "Mountain of Chill" starts thing off full speed with a chainsaw chug of guitars and filthy bass, prime for headbanging and oozing good-times vibes, man. The sneering vocals are a highlight throughout the album, injecting a dose of punk attitude into the fuzz a la Eddie Glass. Follow-up "Evil Blood" is straight grimy, slogging doom, laying down a tumbling riff and fit for the grainiest of VHS music videos. A change of pace is soon at hand, however, with highlight track "Ghost Train" rolling through like its namesake, all gritty guitar and clattering percussion. The bass is particularly gnarly on this locomotive, and the track barrels forward with sinister intent towards a blown-out, sci-fi climax of blazing guitar. The aptly named follow-up track, "Punk" wears its heart on its sleeve and earns the high praise of sounding like a long-lost American Sharks tune. The jagged, uptempo riffage and snotty vocals demand fist-pumping and general smashing of shit, though not without a trick up its sleeve in the form of a smooth, psychedelic second half sans vocals. This gentler side of the Mystery Dudes shows itself again on the instrumental "Nebula", bringing to mind 90s alt rockers Live in its surprising melancholy, before diving back into Sabbath worship with the southern-tinged doomer "Mondo Hopeless". Another highlight, "Witch's Stare", delivers creeping occult vibes and a brick of a riff alongside absolute earworm lyrics. Closing number "Mexican Stand Up" closes the record out by bringing back the early punk energy, throwing grinding riffs at the listener with abandon in a gleeful psychedelic onrush. Mystery Dudes have a golden nug on their hands with "Exit Through the Wormhole", taking the best the stoner rock genre has to offer and elevating it to something immediate and exhilirating. Strap in.

(Written by  Kyle SB / Shasta Beast)

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