Review: Froglord ‘The Mystic Toad’ [Reissue]
If you are a gig-going member of the UK public, I have no doubt that sometime in the last few years you have seen this band’s name pop up in various locations. Quite the novelty, it’s hard to want to jump in and invest time in a group with a peculiar connection to our amphibian friends. That is, unless you already know them or have a love for all things froggy.
For me personally, I’ve always been a bit sceptical. After all, why would you want to align yourself with Kermit and his pals for a bit of musical relief? Not since Paul McCartney introduced the planet to his misguided monotone drivel in the ‘80s with We All Stand Together (The Frog Song) have frogs been the inspiration for musical projects, aside from Muppet-related tomfoolery. That’s what makes Froglord so unique. On paper, you would have to question what led the band to this concept – after all, it isn’t the easiest connection to make. In reality, though, it makes for quite the talking point.
As I’m all set to cover Stoomfest for The Sleeping Shaman, one of the acts that sparked my interest in attending was actually Froglord, alongside Stoned Jesus and Slomatics. It is looking to be a phenomenal weekend at the end of September in London, and the band will be a pivotal part of it for me.
Coming to the record, The Mystic Toad isn’t by any means a new release; it’s actually a reissue, with a couple of added bonus tracks at its tail (see what I did there), with Swamp Boogie and Croak included for good measure. If you are a fan of the Bristol quartet, I have no doubt that you are aware of the album, even though only a hundred copies were initially available when released in 2021.
This made it a highly sought-after addition to many collections, and with this reissue, those who missed out can finally nab a copy of this expanded nine-track version, which is brim-full of swampy goodness. As such, if frog-themed stoner sludge is your thing, it’ll be right up your street.
The fusing of psychedelic doom and iconic sludge sensibilities provides a wonderful pairing…
Opening with They Came From Saturn, we are instantly enticed by epic sci-fi monologues and heavy, drudgy stoner-doom lurches. It’s hard, menacing, and purely guttural. As the primary point of contact hits the initial vibe for the opus, it’s clear that this is far more than just a comedy concept entity. The fusing of psychedelic doom and iconic sludge sensibilities provides a wonderful pairing, helping to elevate this beyond a mere fun project. There’s a legitimacy here that is evident right from the opening bars and still felt long after the album has concluded.
First Contact picks up from where the opener leaves us, providing concrete evidence that they aren’t just a gimmick. The heady mix of chugging guitar and bass running alongside the percussion provides a sublime backdrop for the eclectic vocal; while it is quite bizarre, it is also very engaging. This seems to be the case throughout the whole album, and thankfully, as it progresses, it never cheapens the experience.
Elsewhere, the title track, The Mystic Toad, gives us an unrestricted view into the band’s flipside. It’s moments such as the opening minute where they create a completely different vibe indeed, hitting at a retro ‘60s feel somewhat on par with Led Zeppelin, in my humble opinion. This is paralleled, though, as when it opens out, it is overwhelmed by a vastly darker mood before aligning both extremes and morphing into something far more versatile. It’s this fusing where Froglord really do excel, and over the course of the album, it makes for a genuinely magical experience.
Ancestors is another otherworldly track, littered with doomy bleakness interspersed with eloquent, aged goodness. The inclusion of swamp ambience at its beginning helps to refresh the concept of all things amphibian, and as it builds, there is a truly majestic weirdness to it all.
The inclusion of the bonus tracks is a novel one, and while I wasn’t the biggest fan of Swamp Boogie, I really enjoy Croak. It is an oddity to finish up with but leaves things on a high. It had me thinking of early Stoned Jesus, though I think that was for the heavy intensity more than anything. The use of hard-edged sludge to ram home their sound worked perfectly, and it tied up the package seamlessly.
All in all, it was a cracking experience. I’m usually not one for gimmicks, but frogs aside, it truly was a magical experience. Roll on Stoomfest, it should be a ‘toad-ally’ fantastic time indeed…
Label: Black Throne Productions
Band Links: Official | Facebook | Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram
Scribed by: Lee Beamish
