Fuzz Evil Premiere Title-Track of Smear Merchants LP Out March 21

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Arizona heavy rockers Fuzz Evil — led as ever by guitarist/vocalist Wayne Rudell and bassist/vocalist Joey Rudell — will release their fourth album, Smear Merchants, on March 21 through Desert Records. And more than two months is early for a review of the thing, admittedly, but I’m not sure I can let this post go live without telling you it’s the best and farthest-reaching work the band have done. In the 10-plus years since their first split 7″ (review here), the Rudell brothers have steered through a number of sonic shifts, trying out ideas in persona and style. The preceding 2023 outing, New Blood (review here), pushed their prior good-times desert-style aesthetic forth with a bit more of an edge, and as the revamped four-piece of Wayne, Joey, baritone guitarist Preston Jennings and drummer Cajun Adams take off on the 10-song/45-minute plunge, they sound like they’ve thrown off some of the shackles of writing to genre and are a freer in their expression. It would seem Fuzz Evil have hit the point of bring able to let their music become whatever the hell they think it wants to be.

Considering they’ve been skillful songwriters all fuzz evil smear merchants along, Smear Merchants comes across like an organic arrival at a moment of realization and self-reflection. It gets darker than one might think of as ‘refreshing,’ but it is the most individual they’ve sounded. Some of it is outwardly aggressive, more than the band has been before, as with the screams in the charged “Wanderer’s Wake” and some of it is quieter and more hypnotic. Those who got down to the dancey side of New Blood might be surprised at the noisy aural context “Smear Merchants” (premiering below) sets for the album that shares its name with its wailing-wah solo and tonal crunch.

But the brash punker thrust in the first half of the two-minute “Sermons of the Defiant” (where the repeated line sounds like, “I wanna fight the pope, I wanna fight the pope,” and if it’s not that, I’m not sure I want to know) just prior and the uptick in scope for the subsequent eight-minute sprawl of “Progression of the Black Sun”, languid swing hinting at doom in its twists and use of organ, but unmistakably desert-born, paint a more complex picture. And in truth, that’s the story of the whole record: it’s a more complex picture of who you thought Fuzz Evil were as a band. They’re still heavy, they’re still writing memorable pieces like the aforementioned “Wanderer’s Wake,” which picks up from the 17-second intro “The Fraile Mourning of Eternity” — weightier in its title than acoustic strum, but fair enough — and gives over to thefuzz evil smear merchants album cover shorter instrumental blast “Doomsayer’s Lament,” setting up a back-and-forth that plays out into the shuffling highlight “The Juice is Loosh,” the aforementioned “Sermons of the Defiant” and the title-track across side A with “Progression of the Black Sun” waiting to immerse the listener after the (perhaps virtual) LP platter flip.

The longest cut on Smear Merchants is a highlight as well for what it encompasses while still shining through with purpose for its comparatively extended run, but Fuzz Evil aren’t finished yet, and they flesh out side B with the ultra-hooky “Starlight Grave” and “How to Vibe Alone,” the latter of which brings a marked focus on fuzzal density and a right-on grooving lead and sludgy shouts later on, echoing back to “Wanderer’s Wake,” giving the record a sense of symmetry, and still leaving room for one final turn toward the unexpected with the patient drone intro that picks up from the residual crashes of “How to Vibe Alone” and moves fluidly into the instrumental finale “Whispers From the Abyss.” This last inclusion makes its way to a last nod, but for the first 3:45 of its total 5:11, it explores a guitar-effects drone, and so gives one more new look from Fuzz Evil before they turn their audience back over to the real world with no less intent than they started out in “The Fraile Mourning of Eternity” at the start.

…Well, so much for not reviewing it. I knew that was gonna happen.

Maybe you skipped to the audio here. Enough blah blah, give me the song. Fair.

What you really need to know, even two months ahead of the release, is that Fuzz Evil have found something new in this material and set themselves to exploring it with the same vitality they’ve always brought to their work. Take a listen to “Smear Merchants” on the player below and I think you’ll agree that defying expectation suits them quite well.

A quote and PR wire info follow. Please enjoy:

Fuzz Evil on Smear Merchants:

“This album is a journey, designed to be experienced in one sitting, with each track seamlessly transitioning into the next through wild time-signature shifts, key changes, and an intricate use of effects that add a whole new dimension to our sound.”

“Smear Merchants” is the title track of Fuzz Evil’s 4th studio record “Smear Merchants” to be released on March 21st, 2025 on Desert Records. The band evolves their music each record and with “Smear Merchants” it will be their take on more doom metal/stoner.

Smear Merchants marks a transformative moment for Fuzz Evil. Expanding from a 3-piece to a 4-piece lineup, the band’s sound is bigger, heavier, and more dynamic than ever before. Written, recorded, and produced entirely DIY, this album gave Fuzz Evil the freedom to push boundaries and experiment—and it shows. Every riff, transition, and effect reflects the band’s uncompromising vision and creative exploration.

While staying true to their signature driving energy, Smear Merchants ventures into bold new territory. Preston Jennings’ love for ambient textures and psychedelic soundscapes adds depth and atmosphere, while Kenneth “Cajun” Adam’s screaming vocals introduce a raw intensity that amplifies the band’s doom/metal elements. Together, these additions create a powerful blend of storytelling, instrumental exploration, and crushing riffs that redefine what Fuzz Evil can do.

From hypnotic breakdowns to blistering highs, Smear Merchants captures the full spectrum of sound, layered with effects that pull listeners deeper into the experience. This is Fuzz Evil at their most ambitious and innovative, delivering an album meant to take you on an unforgettable sonic journey. Experience the raw creativity and limitless energy of Smear Merchants, where DIY ingenuity meets heavy, transformative soundscapes.

Fuzz Evil is:
Vocals & Guitar: Wayne Rudell
Bass & Backing Vocals: Joseph Rudell
Baritone Guitars: Preston Jennings
Drums: Cajun Adams

Fuzz Evil, “Wanderer’s Wake” (2024)

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