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MASSASAUGA
Exorcisms And Psychic Visions EP

Self-released (2022)
Rating: 8/10

This duo from Coventry in England deserve your attention if you’re into fuzzed-up, psyched-out occult-drenched doom n’ roll. Massasauga features Conrad Lummus (vocals and guitars) and Adam Stewart (drums), and this new EP runs just short of 15-minutes.

The biggest compliment I can pay the band is that they sound like something British comedy troupe The Mighty Boosh might come up with if satanically influenced and in an orgy with UK act Possessor!

However, Massasauga have a far more Gothic / death rock groove to their sound, even though I can’t stop thinking of the ‘Nanageddon’ song from The Mighty Boosh episode of the same name on opening cut ‘Psychic Visions’. The track remains catchy, theatrical and thankfully not too stoned or bogged down like so many other acts attempting this sort of horror-cum-doom ethos.

Conrad Lummus’ vocals are interesting as they are relatively clear and more Gothically themed as he croons his way through the suspenseful tinkles of ’10-46’, where the duo provide a lighter touch yet remain haunting in their techniques. Meanwhile, ‘Switchblade’ is pure riff-a-geddon where again there’s that doomy edge, although the weight is never crushing – more nifty if anything. And that’s where the Possessor feel comes to the fore, yet with less distortion.

Massasauga does have its own style that hints at 60s garage themes and enough ghoulish lyrics to soundtrack any Halloween party. No, I wouldn’t call it metal at all – there’s the punky vocal swagger and the Gothic fuzz guitars – but it remains far more occult-driven than most, and one cannot argue with the shock-o-rama tumble of ‘Motorbeast’. This is the kind’ve band you’d want opening for someone like Uncle Acid, but then again Twin Temple might want them on board too.

Exorcisms And Psychic Visions, from cover (and that is one hell of a cover!) to sound, is a cauldron of catchy devil rock to accompany your graveside rock ‘n’ roll rendezvous. Support these guys so we can get a tasty vinyl release.

Neil Arnold

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