SALEM'S POT - Lurar ut Dig på Prärien

Deranged psychedelic doom with a creepy horror movie vibe pretty much sums up a casual listen to Salem's Pot and their debut full-length ... Lurar ut dig på prärien. Fuzzy riffs wash over the listener as the snarled vocals sound nothing but malevolent. Coming in at three tracks and a half hour plus of music, they have plenty of time to put together perhaps my favorite record of the year. Whether it's the spacey and trippy first track "Creep Purple" or the strange evil carnival vibe of "Dr. Death", they're always throwing in something to keep the listener on their toes. There isn't a moment wasted.

"Creep Purple" builds and builds the anticipation, suffocating you with fuzzy feedback... There is no rush. Just sit back and enjoy the ride. It's nothing technical but the music itself grows to be hypnotic as the track progresses. All in all just catchy doom that sounds utterly filthy. "Dr. Death" starts off the second side of the record without losing that creepy feel from the first track... In all actuality probably adds to it ten fold by the time 'I see snakes all around this place / I think I've had enough' is uttered. That driving riff is so simple but so good. It's hard to pick but between the well placed use of the accordion and the just feel of "Dr. Death", it might be my favorite on ... Lurar ut dig på prärien.

The closer, "Nothing Hill" doesn't rely on a lengthy build up but instead throws you into the maelstrom immediately. And with a lyric like 'you are the weakest link between you and your dreams', the track's tone is pretty clear. There's an awesome dirty rock and roll attitude that exudes from "Nothing Hill" - also they use a cowbell.

There's certainly a retro 70s horror/occult/porn vibe to both the music and artwork... And I really dig it. Especially the shadowy black and red back cover of a nude woman eating grapes. It perfectly accompanies the sleazy doom on the record itself. It has a vintage almost VHS quality box-art quality... And it looks rad quite honestly.

Salem's Pot certainly knows how to build a creepy atmosphere without relying on gimmicks and over the top goofiness but with great riffs and aggression. It's a record that only gets better and better with each listen and for that reason, I can't recommend it enough. If you dig bands like Electric Wizard, Uncle Acid or even Ramesses to a degree, give them a try. [Easy Rider / Riding Easy Records]
- Evan Coonly

Picture by Mike Stone