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Egypt is Ready for the Digging

Posted in Reviews on October 22nd, 2009 by JJ Koczan

Simple, to the point. Much like the album, not much like the review.Rare are the times in my life where the phrase, ?Fuck yeah, Dire Straits!? has crossed my lips. In fact, I can only think of one instance, and that was the first time I heard the ?ber-fuzz guitar tone on ?Dirty Witch,? the third of four songs on Fargo, North Dakota, trio Egypt?s self-titled EP. Originally released on vinyl in 2007 via Lyderhorn Records (since relocated to Norway), Egypt finds its first CD issue courtesy of MeteorCity?s ongoing reconnaissance program to unearth quality, unheard Sleep-style stoner metal.

Sure enough, Sleep is a chief reference here, as it is for much of MeteorCity?s latter day output, but Egypt work in an even more classic rock vein, bassist/vocalist Aaron Esterby having a far-off-the-mic feel to his approach that sounds like it would go well over an enthusiastic crowd at a sweltering summer festival. Likewise, Ryan Grahn?s guitar is warm and easy on the ear in a classic style, sounding particularly sweet on closer ?Touch Ground,? the first two and a half minutes of which unfold calmly and casually so that when the massive riff around which the song winds up being based comes in nearly 30 seconds later, it?s all the more grandiose. Kudos to drummer Chad Heille for morphing his style to suit the situation at hand, be it the jazzy snare work that starts the song or the rampaging crash cymbal that finishes it.

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