Royal Thunder's self-titled EP easily invokes the madness and majesty of Dax Riggs' early-post-Acid Bath work (i.e., the Agents of Oblivion masterful self-titled album and the equally malevolent but deliciously insane If This Is Hell, We're Lucky originally attributed to Deadboy and the Elephantmen but since re-released under Dax Riggs' name) while also recalling Mazzy Star, Electric Wizard, Danzig, and maybe even Nirvana.  [Shuffle the four artists mentioned in the last sentence and the sentiment remains the same in whatever order one might arrange them.] Also recalled are the aforementioned Mastodudes as well as the mighty Black Sabbath. In particular the vocal harmonies on album-closing "Deacon" at times invoke "Snowblind," although this writer can't shake that vibe from earlier on in the record, either.

Add some Dusty Springfield to the mix to reflect the soulful vocal stylings of one Mlny Parsonz (Melanie Parsons, anyone?) and the recipe is set.  That the band is a power trio is a testament to the art of their sound.  Hypnotic, addictive, magnetic, entrancing, magical....  Damn near possessive, really!  So just do everyone a favor and track down this record.  Buy it.  Drop the needle (not like that, pal) and let it be absorbed into your psyche.  This is moving music in the greatest sense. To cop a lyric, this band easily should be the "chosen one." Consider this fair warning. "Sexy evil," indeed!

[Note: This is a review of the Relapse Records re-release (say that five times fast, friends) of Royal Thunder's 2009 eponymous debut EP. ...And it only gets a 9 because more is needed, posthaste!]

written by Tony Belcher

Playing time: 33:24