Review: TONS ‘Stoned Villains’
A menacing laugh – most likely from the late great Vincent Price (think the end of Thriller) – opens TONS’ Shirley Temple Ball. There are few finer decisions to begin an album titled Stoned Villains, and the Italian four-piece makes it clear that diabolical sludge with an undercut of melody and mischief is their forte.
Now with new drummer Oreste Penarelli in tow, they have unleashed a fearsome new effort with their fourth offering from the immortal Heavy Psych Sounds.
Back to Shirley Temple Ball, it rolls with the grated guttural shriek of bands like Bongzilla, Iron Monkey and Weedeater but with a noticeably melodic flouring amidst hardcore-informed character. A further sample is used with dialogue from the cult classic Big Trouble In Little China for a suitably badass closing moment. Hanogver The Top rends the flesh with a Floor-like riff that soon transforms into a suitably nasty Buzzoven-esque siege with some growly death vocals.
a one-ton caliber album that is highly recommended for any sludge enthusiast…
But the bluesy stomp of Lost In Plantationmeans it’s time for some rest and respite at the bar for a much-needed drink, although an impending sense of violence means that a brawl could break out any minute, especially with the use of Peter Finch’s immortal ‘I’m as mad as hell’ monologue from the film Network. The bleak beauty of Jesu comes to mind with Intro (Cabin Fever), which doesn’t so much suggest being cooped up inside a cabin as it does exiting a cabin to find that the world you remember has been blown up.
We of course need weed-referential stuff here, so The Big Bong Theory and Darth Vaper would fit in comfortably with Dopethrone’s work. Stoned Villains does deliver a noticeable level of sonic variety that is, at times, missing with their fellow sandpaper-throated brethren. This is a distinctly fun sludge album with a ton of energy, pot references, implosion-worthy heaviness and a nice slice of humor. TONS has brought a one-ton caliber album that is highly recommended for any sludge enthusiast.
Label: Heavy Psych Sounds
Band Links: Facebook | Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram
Scribed by: Rob Walsh
