Smoke Release New Single “Scavenger”
So it starts out super nasty on guitar like some weirdo Butthole Surfers fuckall rock that still swings, and the bassline hits and it’s like Helmet but heavy and then the vocals are harsh while the guitar pulls Kyuss leads in the background and then they slow down like the stoner rock meme brought to life and remind what everybody liked about sludge rock in the first place: that it could be both. Virginia’s Smoke continue to intrigue as they follow-up their 2022 debut album, Groupthink (review here) with the new single “Scavenger,” the roughly five-point-five minutes of which are not to be fucked with. The Bandcamp page says it’s been there since Feb. 10 but I just got the email that the song had been released, so whatever, if it’s brand new or not, it’s new to me and it’s killer and that’s good enough.
Today is Bandcamp Friday and no fees and blah blah, so the timing is good, but I’m more drawn in by the shift in style from where they were on the album less than a year ago and curious as to what “Scavenger” implies as regards the progression of the band. At best, its turn toward aggressive vocals and harder-edged riffs — coinciding as they do with the bone-picking theme of the lyrics you can read below — means Smoke are even more multifaceted than they showed before and that much stronger as a band for being that much less predictable. At worst it’s a one-off and still a cool heavy tune. In other words, you don’t lose either way by checking it out.
The stream is at the bottom of this post, and all the text below comes from their Bandcamp as well, so, you know, feel free to head that way when you’re done here, if you haven’t already done so:
SMOKE – Scavenger
Scavenger starts as a high-velocity death rattle as vultures pick bones clean, screeching vocals and guitars carry the song, finishing with a slow grave-digging riff. An ode to consumers of carrion everywhere.
lyrics
Hyena walk with a vulture taste
Always the aggressor but only agitates
A fungus mind preys on the weak
Always the victim but inherits the meekHow much should we give?
Everything we have
How much should we give?
A little more than thatScavenger
A psychic drain while the vampires feed
Our bones are gnashing against hyena teeth
Appearance over passion, dagger over sword
None of the work, but all of the rewardHow much should we give?
Everything we have
How much should we give?
A little more than thatScavenger
Written by: Smoke (2023)
Lyrics: Dalton Huskin
Art: Dalton Huskin
Mix: Ben McLeod
Master: Mikey Allred
Recorded at Fainting Goat Studios in Bedford, VA
Smoke:
Dalton Huskin – Guitar/Vocals
Ben Gold – Lead Guitar
Alex Thurson – Drums
Stephen Tyree – Bass
http://facebook.com/thecultofsmoke
http://instagram.com/thecultofsmoke
https://thecultofsmoke.bandcamp.com/
Their logo looks like a vagina.
awesome song, just listened to it 3 times on repeat