Brilliant. Amazing. These are just two words that could describe the U.K. group Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats. Mind Control, the U.K. group’s third full-length album, is relatively perfect; a definite contender for many Best of 2013 lists. Why? Well, if a combination of the gigantic riffs of Black Sabbath, the catchy sing-song style of Alice Cooper, the balls-out energy of Iggy and The Stooges and the wild psychedelia of Roky Erickson sounds good, multiply by three and you’ll have a close approximation of Uncle Acid, et al.
Mind Control is completely and totally infectious. Songs like ‘Poison Apple,’ ‘Valley of the Dolls,’ and ‘Devil’s Work’ do eventually control the mind. Listen once. It will call out. Listen twice. It will own your soul. The third listen will be mostly subconscious. Utterly doomed. Any and all future listens will be for fun, or to show friends and family how good this band truly is. Bottom line: it will not disappoint. This is doom for the masses; a superb blend of styles, swirling and heavy guitars, booming bass, pounding drums, and vocals good enough to soothe the occult rock beast. Alarmingly great. Guaranteed to take up residence in your head, in your CD player, and on your turntable for many spins. Again, relatively perfect.
Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats formed in Cambridge in 2009. Volume 1, the group’s debut full-length, appeared in 2010, to little attention. The band self-released their second full-length, Blood Lust, in 2011, generating quite a stir in the industry, and landing them an appearance at Roadburn that same year.
The songs on Mind Control, and the band, made up of Uncle Acid (lead guitars, organ, vocals), Yotam Rubinger (guitars, backing vocals), Thomas Mowforth (drums), and Dean Millar (bass), will be (should be) relevant for years to come. If not, there is no hope for music, or for humanity. These songs deserve to stand the test of time. Bring on the fourth release. Controlled minds are ready.
JH Statts
New Comments