Into the Valley of Death Premiere “100 Feet Tall” Video
Los Angeles-based solo outfit Into the Valley of Death self-released its debut EP, Space Age, last Fall, and the five-songer has been newly picked up for release through Atlanta’s Doomsayer Records. The project is spearheaded by Spencer Robinson, also known for his bass work in The Lords of Altamont and for playing/recording with his backing band, The Wolf Spiders. On Space Age, he is on his own with what might be programmed drums pretty deep in the mix and very-much-real thickened guitar strumming at the forefront.
Doesn’t sound like anything too fancy, I know, but that balance — guitars up, drums down — turns out to be crucial in the EP’s overall affect. A song like opener “Leeches” or the centerpiece “Strip” present a vision of desert-style heavy rock redone in the methodology of bedroom solo folk. Where others might try to ape the sound of a full band, Into the Valley of Death does everything a band does — “100 Feet Tall,” with the video premiering below, proves that handily enough — but with the mellow-gruff vocal delivery casting shades of Mark Lanegan and the often stark instrumental spaces, Space Age sounds like it’s a one-person offering. The resulting vibe is intimate but not minimalist, tripped out and exploring but based on solid footing. Second cut “Under the Ground” has a march that would work on stage, and “Leeches” might too, if in more grumbly fashion, but the more languid moments feel geared toward something else entirely. They are what they are.
Rock gets the last word as “Malice” rounds out the 18-minute IPO with more uptempo riffing and a daring bit of rhythmic shake, but already the brooding sensibility has resulted in a style richer than just one thing and richer too than the rawness of the production might at first lead one to believe. In the video for “100 Feet Tall,” Robinson mines the public domain to discover animated footage from the 1982 Korean film, Raiders of Galaxy (yes, I asked; that is not information I could just pull out my ass), which, if you’re interested in reading about the politics of post-war importing of cultural products between Asian nations, offers some fodder for that. Mostly when it comes to the clip for “100 Feet Tall,” it’s got giant robots. Accordingly, you could only really say it’s on theme.
According to Doomsayer, there’s a follow-up EP in the works. Until then, the full Space Age EP is streaming near the bottom of this post, and you can see and hopefully enjoy the “100 Feet Tall” video below.
Right about here:
Into the Valley of Death, “100 Feet Tall” video premiere
Spencer Robinson on “100 Feet Tall”:
100 Feet Tall: Have you ever ingested something that mistakenly made you feel bigger than life? Invincible? That’s what 100 Feet Tall is about.
We are excited to announce and welcome Into The Valley Of Death into the Doomsayer fold. Our hope in this partnership is to gain more eyes and ears for the hardworking efforts of Into The Valley Of Death.
They have already been writing and working on a new EP, which will find its home here with us. So go experience “Space Age” and get familiar with them before the EP drops.
Into The Valley of Death is Los Angeles Stoner Metal. Taking their cue from the bands of the low desert, Doom Metal, and Psychedelic Garage, Into The Valley Of Death creates something dark and heavy, druggy and trippy.
Into the Valley of Death, Space Age (2021/2022)
Into the Valley of Death on Bandcamp
Spencer Robinson and the Wolf Spiders on Facebook
Doomsayer Records on Instagram
Tags: California, Doomsayer Records, Into the Valley of Death, Into the Valley of Death Space Age, Los Angeles, Space Age
