…And of course, by the Fu, I mean Fu Manchu. This is actually a pretty cool match-up. Fu Manchu have made no attempts to hide their love of classic West Coast hardcore over their last couple records, trying to distance themselves from the “stoner rock” thing, and Dusted Angel‘s lineup boasts a who’s who of Californian luminaries, including drummer Bill Torgeson and vocalist Clifford Dinsmore of Bl’ast. One can only assume these two things aren’t unrelated, but either way, I suppose the chance to see Fu Manchu and Dusted Angel play together is just one more reason it doesn’t suck to be in Cali in January.

PR wire says dig it:

Santa Cruz doomsters Dusted Angel have been confirmed as direct support for fellow Californians and stoner rock legends Fu Manchu on their upcoming home-state tour! The tour kicks off on Jan. 13 with more DA-only dates to be scheduled around these appearances.

Dusted Angel with Fu Manchu:
01/13 The Satellite (formerly Spaceland) – Silverlake, CA
01/21 Blue Lagoon – Santa Cruz, CA
01/22 Bottom of the Hill – San Francisco, CA
01/27 Casbah – San Diego, CA

Hear ye, hear ye. The PR speaketh of things Dusted and Angelic. Astute and/or long-time attendees might recall the review of Dusted Angel‘s Earth Sick Mind from last month — or perhaps even the interview with frontman Clifford Dinsmore (ex-Bl’ast) on the occasion of the release of their first 7″ last year. Yeah, probably not.

In any case, Earth Sick Mind is out now, or so says the blue press release below with news of that and other Dusted Angel goings-on. Dig:

Dusted Angel‘s long-anticipated full-length Earth Sick Mind is out now via Mankind Records, bearing seven thunderous anthems for public consumption. The band’s blend of raging rock/hardcore crossover and cerebral doom elements has been slowly infecting full-on headbangers, stoner rock aficionados and all in between over the past two years, and it all comes together seamlessly on the 40-minute long debut album.

Merging Dusted Angel‘s longstanding ties to West Coast hardcore/rock as well as their infamous California surf and skate legacy — with several members hailing from notorious SST surf/skatecore legends Bl’ast — the band have teamed up with the almighty Thrasher magazine in celebration of the release of DA‘s album, with a full-page ad and promotion in the December issue of the mag (out 11/15) where readers can receive a free copy of Earth Sick Mind with a one-year subscription to the mag!

After recently storming San Francisco opening for D.C. hardcore legends Scream last month, Dusted Angel are busy racking up more live dates. Within the coming weeks we’ll be announcing the band’s upcoming participation in one badass West Coast tour early in 2011; more details will follow very shortly. For now catch them live at the Art ‘n’ Soul presents Modern Living event at San Jose‘s Voodoo Lounge next week; an event chock full of partying, art, music, and a full-on skate ramp setup, for a day of total debauchery.

Dusted Angel live:
11/17 Voodoo Lounge San Jose, CA w/ Hightower

Listening to the first full-length by Santa Cruz doom rockers Dusted Angel, I can’t help but wonder exactly what they meant by the title Earth-Sick Mind. It’s hard to tell whether the band, fronted by ex-Bl’ast/Spaceboy/Gargantula vocalist Clifford Dinsmore, were thinking of “earth-sick” like the idea of being homesick, missing planet Earth after leaving for whatever reason, or “earth-sick” as in, “God damn, I’m really sick of this fucking planet.” The cover art to Earth-Sick Mind (released on Mankind Records) isn’t much help either, as the loincloth and gasmask-clad figure featured on an apocalyptic red background standing on top of a pile of skulls could just as easily be on Earth as not. Hard to say. That pipe he’s holding looks like Earth plumbing, if that makes any difference.

The title is probably the most challenging aspect of the album though, as Dusted Angel’s straightforward doom approach is bound to be familiar and welcome amidst the seasoned heads who hear it. A double-guitar five-piece with riffs and solos from Eric Fieber and Scott Stevens, Elliot Young on bass and Dinsmore’s Bl’ast bandmate Bill Torgeson drumming, Dusted Angel don’t ask much from the listener in terms of indulgence. Rather, although tracks like “Tards on Shards” and “Scottstober” (inside jokes abound, one imagines) reach over seven minutes, there’s nothing overly complex about their structures. This can make Earth-Sick Mind feel redundant at points, but each individual track has something to grab even the most fickle of attentions, be it the plus-sized chugging of later cut “Pulverizer” or the sub-stoner drive of “Seeking the Dawn” which is kind of what Fu Manchu would be if Fu Manchu only wrote songs in the dark.

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It’s a great time for it too, because their album’s about to be released. Amazing when these things come together like that. You’d almost think someone planned it that way.

The PR wire’s got the goods, and by “goods” I mean “information.”

Earth Sick Mind, the thunderous debut full-length from Santa Cruz doom rockers Dusted Angel, is finally upon us and set for release on Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2010. The crushing seven-track attack of Earth Sick Mind was captured in San Francisco by sludgemonger Billy Anderson (High on Fire, Neurosis, Sleep) in April, and will be released next week by Mankind Records, a division of Revelation Records. A solid year and a half of touring and west coast gigs have the members of Dusted Angel conditioned to jam tighter than ever, building upon the rocking hardcore-meets-stoner/doom dynamics fans of the band already love, and taking these songs to massive new levels of crushing groove.

In celebration, Dusted Angel will perform at a pair of Bay Area record release shows this month. The first show takes place in San Francisco on Oct. 15, just days after the album’s release, where Dusted Angel will be playing alongside Dischord Records hardcore legends Scream! The following week the band hit their hometown Santa Cruz legions hard, playing alongside Christian Mistress and Thrones who are currently touring the US together.

Dusted Angel record release shows:
10/15 Thee Parkside – San Francisco, CA w/ Scream, Dead Meat
10/27 Blue Lagoon – Santa Cruz, CA w/ Christian Mistress, Thrones

Let’s be frank: if you’re going to do a short run of shows in Cali, Nebula is the band you want to do it with. Not only do they rule, but they’re more CA than the vision of the year 2015 in Back to the Future Part II. Those blessed enough to live on the west coast will get the chance to see recent Obelisk interviewees Dusted Angel and Nebula together toward the end of this month and the beginning of next. Here’s the dates and PR wire infotainments:

The Santa Cruz-based doom/rock unit Dusted Angel features members of Bl’ast, Spaceboy, Gargantula and more. Their debut EP is available via iTunes now, with an extra song that is not available on the 7″ release of the EP on November 17th. The EP is being released by Corruption Recordings, now exclusively distributed by Relapse Records.

Dusted Angel with Nebula (and Radio Moscow):
11/28/2009 Blank Club – San Jose, CA
11/29/2009 Annie’s Social Club – San Francisco, CA
12/03/2009 Kensington Club – San Diego, CA w/?Red Octopuss
12/04/2009 The Royal Dive – Oceanside, CA w/ Red Octopuss
12/05/2009 Nomad Gallery – Los Angeles, CA w/ Green & Wood

I’m not much for revering obscure Santa Cruz skateboarding venues, so I’ll let the PR wire explain this one. Suffice it so say that Dusted Angel kicks ass playing in the video and doom and pro skating is a marriage long in the making. Dig it:

Santa Cruz doomsters Dusted Angel were invited to play at a historic skateboarding landmark last weekend as the Buena Vista skate pool was unearthed for a day of hardcore skating. The pool is part of Dusted Angel ‘s heritage; a famous landmark dating back nearly 40 years, where early pro skateboarders helped bring the concept of pool skating to the public’s attention. Frontman Clifford Dinsmore stated, “When Dave Freil from NHS/Santa Cruz, barged our practice the night before the contest, and asked us to play, it was an honor that no Santa Cruzian could possibly refuse!”

After being physically buried under gravel and dirt for years (the last time it was uncovered was 2001), the pool was unearthed for one special day of hardcore skating, boozing, good times and of course, Dusted Angel jamming out in the midst of it all. “The mayhem that ensued was light-years beyond classic” Dinsmore continues. “We became the soundtrack for an irreplaceable day in time. No fights, no bullshit, and some of the most aggro skating ever witnessed at one of the most hairball pools in the history of this fucked up earth.” The pool is to be re-buried again this week, making this one day a true landmark in skateboarding history.

When I called Dusted Angel frontman, Clifford Dinsmore, for the following interview, the Santa Cruz singer was out riding his bike. As he’d shortly inform me, he was about a block away from raging wildfires that were, as he put it, “Like riding your bike in the middle of a camp fire.” I was largely unable to imagine the heat, discomfort and threatened feelings such a situation might produce.

Nonetheless, the former BL’AST and Gargantula frontman was willing to give up some of his time to discuss his latest project, Dusted Angel, who recently issued their self-titled debut 7″ (review here) through Corruption Recordings. Rooted in doomed-out, old school simplicity and foreboding riff-led atmospheres, the five-piece has already amassed a considerable following taking into account their still-nascent status.

After the jump, the veteran vocalist discusses the formation of Dusted Angel, their recording process with the much-revered Billy Anderson, and what they have planned for the future. Followers of a traditional doom aesthetic and a new school sensibility will want to take note. Enjoy.

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The three tracks with which Santa Cruz doomers Dusted Angel make their debut on their self-titled 7? through Corruption Recordings are the kind of songs that one could easily develop a sentimental attachment to, and by that I mean although for the most part they?re stripped-down and raw unto their essential riff-based elements with little frills or unexpected movements, the post-High on Fire energy with which they?re delivered nonetheless brings out a welcome feeling in the hearing. Put on the vinyl and it?s almost like a secret you?re keeping with yourself. Don?t tell anyone, but Dusted Angel kind of rocks.

Side A is comprised of ?The Thorn,? while B gets the shorter ?Valium 5? and ?Purple Jesus,? and all three tracks manage to keep a sense of vitality in the form of varying speeds and vocal approaches from singer Clifford Dinsmore. One could argue that the last minute and a half of ?Valium 5? — which might be my pick of the bunch — is just a big doom finish. The faster, instrumental ?Purple Jesus? is a straightforward rocker that carries a ?90s groove ably in the guitars of Eric Feiber and Scott Stevens and is over before you know it. There?s really no reason the song couldn?t have had vocals, but if nothing else it sets a precedent so that when they put the 20-minute wordless jam on their inevitable full-length they can say, ?I told you so.?

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