Low Gravity in the High Altitudes
Affected by thin Rocky Mountain air, Denver bashers Low Gravity come bursting out of the speakers with their self-titled, self-released five track EP. At 27 minutes, it’s more than a blip – I’ve heard shorter full-lengths – but its feel is less than a complete album, and I think the intent of the band was to give a sampling of what they’re about more than to execute an entire record, so we’ll go with that. EP it is.
They’re a two-guitar four-piece under the given monikers J. Ellis, A. Mullins, A. Williams, D. Ferguson, though who does what is a mystery. Listening to the Low Gravity EP, I keep thinking of Dozer’s first two records, how they took what Kyuss was doing in the desert and made it colder. Low Gravity seem to be doing something similar, though the vocals – mostly screamed, but not entirely without a sense of melody – are a point of departure between the two bands. Still, it’s a similar kind of guitar tone, groove and structure base, which isn’t a complaint at all. Interesting that a Kyuss influence would bounce off Sweden to get back to Colorado, like a cell phone signal going into space to get across a room, but stranger things have certainly happened.
“Manifesto” opens the EP in guitar-led fashion, though the drums and bass are more than just present in the mix, actively contributing to it. The production is clean and modern – I can see the tracks’ wave forms while I listen – but not unnatural. There’s nothing particularly complicated about the material, songs like “Two Queens” and the charmingly titled “Porklust” being straightforward fare that should be readily accessible for fans of stoner rock, but Low Gravity do it well and the angrier vocals give them an edge a lot of bands in their genre don’t have, lending an immediacy and urgency to the otherwise laid back and familiar vibes.
“Low Dead” (say it out loud) might be the catchy highlight of Low Gravity, with its start-stop riffing and crunchier Helmet vibe, but nine-minute closer “Warrior’s Pilgrimage” certainly makes a strong case for itself as well, a memorable center riff resting under lyrics about a great Northern cave and other such snow-laden imagery. Nothing that hasn’t been done before, but Low Gravity aren’t asking for much here other than half an hour of your time and a few nods of the head, both of which they easily earn.
If it was 1999, this shit would change the world, but as it is in 2010, Low Gravity’s stoner groove fits readily into a bursting scene that’s probably happy to have it. Self-aware and confident, I see no reason the band couldn’t get picked up by this or that small label should they want to go that route, and I think with some touring or even just playing locally in and around Denver, their next release (perhaps the inevitable full-length) could be even stronger than this self-titled EP. It’ll be interesting to hear which way the vocals go, either in the more screaming direction or the more melodic – my bet is the latter – but for now, Low Gravity have a solid beginning to work from and build upon.
Tags: Colorado, Denver, Low Gravity, Unsigned bands
