The Early Years (Remastered), by Acid King

The Early Years (Remastered)

by Acid King

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	1.	Lead Paint 04:31
	2.	Blasting Cap 04:40
	3.	Drop 06:30
	4.	Midway 02:03
	5.	Evil Satan 07:55
	6.	If I Burn 03:43
	7.	One Ninety-six 04:22
	8.	Vertigate #1 03:47
	9.	Tank 03:52
	10.	Dry Run 04:16
	11.	Fruit Cup 02:00
	12.	Queen of Sickness 05:15
	13.	Reload 03:22
	14.	Vertigate #2 02:33

about

The Sleeping Shaman

From their humble origins way back in 1993 in San Francisco, Acid King have, over the course of three albums and numerous splits and EPs, grown into one of the lumbering leading lights of the stoner doom scene, not just in the States but worldwide. This collection which brings together their self titled 1994 10" EP and their 1995 debut album, "Zoroaster" gives us the chance to revisit those early days and see how the band has developed with the passage of time.

This isn't the first time this package has seen the light of day, in 2006 Japanese label Leaf Hound Records issued a version of this album but since that, the label appear to have committed hara-kiri so it now falls to Acid King's current label Small Stone to finish the job…and finish it they will, this is limited to 1000 copies so when it's gone, it's gone!!!

Listening back to these early recordings it's incredible to hear how, barely a year into their existence, powerful, confident and fully formed the band sounded. Having Billy Anderson at the controls certainly helps to get the depth of sound, but musically Acid King had it all right from the start. For vocalist/guitarist Lori, the simplicity of the riff is key. I couldn't really say this is fat free as the whole thing is bigger than Oprah Winfrey on a cake binge, but the uncomplicated arrangements and crushing, rolling riffs have more gravitas and weight than any number of widdly twiddly guitar work outs. Peter Lucas' bass is so all encompassing it threatens to burst through the speakers and the band tune so low it almost drops off the scale of human audible tolerance, while Joey Osbourne's drums take more of a beating than a child molester in prison!!! Lori caps the whole thing off with a vicious, sadistic snarl that still somehow retains her femininity. When she gives Old Nick a ticking off on "Evil Satan" you can almost imagine the horned one's balls shrivelling!!!

Nowadays bands peddling such sub sonic abuse are ten a penny but in 1993 Acid King adopted the scuzzy biker doom of St Vitus and mixed it up with the low end aural thuggery of the Melvins to create something pretty unique and terrifying. Perhaps Lori's marriage at the time to Dale Crover of The Melvins caused her some irreparable musical damage. This is dark, heavy and oppressive stuff but not without groove, a bluesy heart and a psychedelic soul…imagine one of the hippos from Disney's Fantasia sitting on your chest while Billy Holliday sings Black Sabbath tunes in the background while gargling razors!!!! If they were this good this early on, I'll definitely be revisiting the rest of their back catalogue, I suggest you do too.

credits

released 30 March 2010
Acid King (1994-1995):
Lori S: Guitars, Vox
Peter Lucas: Bass, Vox
Joey Osbourne: Drums

Original 10" artwork by $2.
Original Zoroaster artwork by Bill George.
CD Layout by Lori S, S2, and Joey Toscano.

Lori, Peter, and Joey, the original Acid King line-up, wrote these first two recordings in The Basement of Peter's house in San Francisco where they practiced, with much inspiration from their roommates: Jay, S2, and Criticall Lass. This is where it all began...

Sympathy for the Record Industry released the first Acid King recording, the self titled 10-inch (SFTR 316) in 1994 only on vinyl, and the first full-length, Zoroaster (SFTRI 379), in 1995. Both recordings have been out of print for many years... Until now!

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about

Peddling the finest in rock n' roll, psychedelic, stoner, doom, blues, hard rock, fuzz, metal, sludge, vintage 70's style rawk, etc, since 1995!!! True, honest music, made by real, honest people. Available on CD, vinyl, and digital.