There are some albums that
instantly grab you from the second you hit the “Play” button and don’t let go
of you until the very last note is played. Get
Smoked is one of those albums. Earl of Hell is a four-piece (soon to be
five) band out of Edinburgh, Scotland formed in 2020. They play a unique brand
of fuzz/stoner/punk rock, and there are even some rockabilly and surf vibes
at times, with shades of Motorhead, Queens of the Stone Age, and Iggy & The
Stooges. After two single releases in 2021, Get
Smoked is the band’s first EP. It will be released on April 29 via Slightly
Fuzzed Records.
By the way, the band’s name “Earl”
is a rank of the nobility in the UK, akin to a “Duke” title. Just to say that
it’s a really cool name for a band, which can be a challenge to find nowadays
as there are so many bands popping up all the time. The gorgeous album artwork tells
you everything you need to know about what’s inside: a fiery, relentless, fuzzy
rock offering. A high-energy affair from the get-go, Get Smoked consists of six songs about death and vengeance, making
it a concept album of sorts. “Hang ‘Em High” blows the gates open like a
spinning ring of fire. It’s a terrific punk-rock song with a fun sing-along
chorus. “Parasite” isn’t a cover of the famous KISS song, instead we’re served a
one-two punch of stoner rock with a pulse-pounding bassline. “I Am the Chill”
wears its title well, a perfect song to chill to—drink up and smoke ‘em if you
got ‘em. “Bitter Fruits” is a revelation! Damn, this one’s got layers and
textures, opening with piano and strings, spiraling into growling vocals and
synth wizardry. A definite stand-out track. “Blood Disco” is the most fun song
of the EP—and that’s saying a lot since they’re all hella fun! It’d be a good
choice for a title song to a Grindhouse-type horror flick. The riff alone will
have you bobbing your head until tomorrow. “Kill the Witch” has bewitched me.
My favorite song on this little gem of an EP. I was walking back from work after
dark alone in the park in the harsh winter when I first heard it and the
opening spoken words by the titular witch genuinely gave me goosebumps! A spooky
song with an addictive chorus that brings Get
Smoked to a close on a strong note.
Get
Smoked will smoke your ass! What a brilliant debut and fun times from
this band—“fun” being the operative word here. I’d love to see them perform
live as they sound tight and give me the impression that it’d be one hell of a
party to attend one of their shows. How is it that this band has only been
together for less than two years? They have such a polished sound that usually
takes years of playing together to achieve. Earl of Hell have crafted a
phenomenal set of songs, with high production values, musical skills in spades,
and bucket-loads of horror imagery. Go ahead and run to pre-order this smokin’
hot EP, you won’t want to be left out in the cold!
Earl of Hell’s Official Website: https://earlofhell.com/
Earl of Hell’s Bandcamp page: https://earlofhell.bandcamp.com/
Slightly Fuzzed Records: https://slightlyfuzzed.bigcartel.com/
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