Somebody in Blue Snaggletooth collects Star Wars merchandise — or at very least has a firm appreciation for the absurd. The Ann Arbor, Michigan, four-piece take their name from a rare 1978 mailorder-only action figure, and between that, their touting themselves as “D&D rock” and songs like “Swords of Atlantis” (a Conan reference), “Sector 7” (given its dreamy psychedelic sprawl, I’m more inclined to think it’s based on the Korean sci-fi flick rather than the Transformers comic book series),  “Fireball Island” (anyone else remember that game?) and “Death of the Time Lords” (Doctor Who) if there’s geek cred left to be proven, I have no idea where.

And sure enough, the title of their 2011 debut, Dimension Thule, is a D&D reference — Thule is a Greater Deity whose symbol is a burning hammer made of ice — but even if you were to listen to Blue Snaggletooth without the internet’s (or your own) decades-spanning compendium of human nerdery at your disposal, Dimension Thule offers plenty to followers of the riff, whether it’s the brash classic metal that opens and closes with “Swords of Atlantis” and “Fireball Island,” respectively, the stoner rock garage fantasy storytelling of “Zweihänder” (a German two-hand sword), or the ’70s shuffle of “Star Flight,” on which guitarists Chris “Box” Taylor (also vocals) and Jess Willyard (also backing vocals) duke it out at a mid-paced boogie that steps away from some of the metallism of the other songs in favor of a more classic heavy. You don’t have to be a geek to groove, is what I’m saying.

What on the vinyl version of the album is side A steps down with each track until the twanging opening of “Insomnia” gives way to grander Southern ideas, but each song also seems to be coming from someplace else stylistically. Usually this leads me to think there are multiple songwriters in the band — and there may well be –but with Taylor, Willyard, bassist Ian Harris and drummer Ian Sugiersky, Blue Snaggletooth still only has four people, and I seriously doubt they hired out for someone to compose the stonerly “Death of the Time Lords” or “Recollection Blues,” which start out side B en route to the spacier instrumental “Sector 7” and the raging drum-solo-and-AA-batteries-included “Fireball Island” finish. Those who know both bands might observe some similarities between Taylor‘s vocals and those of Groan‘s Andreas Mazzereth, but I’m inclined to think it’s coincidence, and in any case, Dimension Thule would’ve come before Groan really began to dip into classic metal on 2012’S The Divine Right of Kings.

Being two years old, it’s way too long since the release for me to give it a full review, but the album has something to offer a variety of listeners, so adding it to The Obelisk Radio was a no-brainer. They’ve reportedly sold out of the vinyl edition of Dimension Thule, but in addition to hearing it on the Radio playlist as of today, you can also check it out and download it through the Blue Snaggletooth Bandcamp, which is also where I grabbed this player:

Blue Snaggletooth, Dimension Thule (2011)

Blue Snaggletooth on Thee Facebooks

Blue Snaggletooth on Bandcamp

Yeah, yeah, I know, Fun House is the shit. Raw Power is the shit. You’ll get no argument out of me. But I’m feeling something a little psychedelic to go with my primal, so The Stooges‘ 1969 self-titled debut it is. I could probably go on for a month about the legacy of this record — I’m pretty sure they teach classes on The Stooges at Michigan State — but fuck it. You know. Fuck it. The “I Wanna be Your Dog” riff alone is heavier than everything.

Tonight is Clamfight, Kings Destroy and Black Pyramid at Union Pool in Brooklyn. The show is free. I’m going to leave my office in about an hour’s time and head into the city to see it, and I can’t wait. I know these bands about as well as I know anything, but hell, good friends is good times, and all the dudes in these bands are excellent. If you’re in Rochester or Allston, MA, they’re coming your way this weekend. Don’t miss it.

Monday, I’ll have a review of the show, and over the course of the weekend, I plan on catching up on emails I still haven’t answered since Hurricane Sandy shoved her category one boot up my and the rest of my beloved Garden State’s collective ass, as well as sending out some email interview questions. Maybe someone will get back before the end of the week. Maybe I’ll get someone on the phone. I don’t really know. Internet isn’t back up at my house yet and so things are a bit screwy on that end. Look for Venomous Maximus, Bell Witch and whatever other reviews I can wrap my tired head around doing.

I’ve also been trying to get an essay written about not being in a band for the last month at least and maybe that’ll finally boil over. We’ll see I guess. I’m not gonna worry about any of it tonight. Tonight I’m going to go see three kickass bands whose work I respect to no end. I’m gonna give Clamfight their CDs. I’m gonna talk to Kings Destroy about their new record, to Black Pyramid about theirs. I’m gonna take a bunch of shitty pictures and maybe one or two decent ones, and then I’m gonna drive back to the valley late and crash out like I’m cashing in a favor. It’s gonna be excellent.

Wherever you are and whatever your plans, I hope you have a great and safe weekend. See you on the forum and back here Monday.