Nova Scotia-based six-piece heavy rockers Elektric Mistress will release their new four-songer Chapter 99 EP, on June 17 as the follow-up to their 2019 self-titled debut (review here). That offering, also an EP, had three tracks, and the band was a five-piece at the time, so really on any level you want to examine, there has been growth. That holds true for the material as well, fortunately, and as the sextet — which, yes, is only fun to write because it has the word “sex” in it; I’m forever in sixth grade; bite me — unfurl the comfortably paced, organ-inclusive groove of “Magic Dust,” they seem just to fade out when the jam takes off at about four minutes in, setting a priority for the release that’s affirmed in the subsequent “Radio” (premiering below) where the rolling hook takes unabashed priority. Perhaps indulging a bit of nostalgia lyrically, “Radio” brings both that slower groove and a synth solo in the midsection that the only word I can think of to describe it is “fun” before the guitar joins in the fray and they efficiently make their way back toward the central progression.

It’s tidier than it at first appears, but one might say the same of the 19-minute outing as a whole. I’m not sure which coke-rock band Elektric Mistress are sending up in the song “Cocaine Johnny” — it would be easy enough to name a few — but they’re clearly enjoying the process even if the lyrics aren’t necessarily about feeling like the life of the party or whatever. The closer is the title-track, and it fulfills the shorter-song-int0-longer-song pattern that “Magic Dust” and “Radio Set,” its riffage full with the double-guitar, organ and bass over the drums, setting itself in a shuffling kind of push that’s not too fast, not too slow, but just right for the hook.

I’m not sure what “Chapter 99” actually is, as in, what apparently-lengthy book we’re talking about, but if you can find an argument against the procession as it wraps up the EP of the same name, you’re one up on me. Elektric Mistress — which I just. can’t. spell. right. — carry over from the self-titled an abiding lack of pretense and an awareness of genre and their place in it, but at its core, Chapter 99 is an unassuming self-made, self-released sub-20-minute outing from a band who clearly are in it because they love the sounds they’re making. Is it gonna change the world? Nah. But it’d make for (part of) a righteous live set, and changing someone’s evening for the better is more than enough to reasonably ask.

You can hear “Radio” on the player below, followed by a few words from the band about the track, EP preorders and all that fun kind of stuff, courtesy of the PR wire.

Enjoy:

Elektric Mistress, “Radio” track premiere

The full EP “Chapter 99” is being released on June 17, 2022.

EP pre-order – https://elektricmistress.bandcamp.com​

Digital pre-save – https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/elektricmistress/chapter-99​

“We think any fans who enjoyed the first EP will enjoy our latest release. With the addition of Jason, we have a new layer of sound for fans to experience. ”Radio” is about how music or a song brings back memories of past relationships. It has our most Black Sabbath type riffs, for sure. Riley came up with the main riff on this one.”

Since the last EP, they have added a new guitarist Jason Cantfell, who is the twin brother of current guitarist Kyle Cantfell. The duo leans into their “Twinchronicity”, with mesmerizingly coordinated harmonies, and bolsters their sound with the addition of equipment including an impressive array of guitar pedals, mini megaphones, and synthesizers.

Appealing to the audio nerds out there, the tracks on “Chapter 99” were shoved through the super-rare CLASP system (Closed Loop Analog Signal Processing) at Fang Recordings to capitalize on that old recording sound. They crushed the hell out of that tape to add a unique dimension to their psychedelic sound.

Track Listing:
1. Magic Dust – 4:06
2. Radio – 5:38
3. Cocaine Johnny – 4:24
4. Chapter 99 – 5:47
EP Length: 19:56

EP and Live Band Line Up:
Kyle Cantfell – Guitar
Jason Cantfell – Guitar
Kieran Richardson – Bass
Maxwell Poole: Vox
Riley MacDonald – Keyboards
Valencia Canales: Drums

Elektric Mistress website

Elektric Mistress on Facebook

Elektric Mistress on Instagram

This Friday, July 19, marks the release of the self-titled debut EP from Nova Scotia five-piece Elektric Mistress. The outing is a 16-minute three-songer, about half of which is dedicated to the eight-minute opener “Turn to Grey,” with its mellow, bluesy procession, lyrical introspection about aging — the early line, “Trees are dying and the leaves are on their own,” feels particularly layered with meaning in a about-more-than-just-hair kind of way — steady organ and basslines, flowing guitar and duly moving drums. Soon enough they’ll get down to drinking in the tropics with frontman Steve Poole calling out drink orders in “Cuba Time” while the band behind — guitarist Kyle Cantfell, bassist Kieran Richardson, drummer Victor Canales and keyboardist Riley MacDonald — execute more of a classic shuffle, but the impression of the opener remains crucial, not just because it’s longer, but because it sets such a fine balance between its atmospheric and rocking elements. Make no mistake, Elektric Mistress are a heavy rock and roll band and they’ve got the ‘k’ in “electric” to prove it, which isn’t to mention the EP’s eyeroll-worthy naked-chick-in-a-feather-headdress-holding-a-bong artwork (well enough drawn, but really?), but part of the value of putting the longest song first is that it immediately changes the context in which “Cuba Time” and closer “Meeting of the Minds” appear. That works well in Elektric Mistress‘ favor on this first offering.

The closer, a couple The Doors references later, is about playing a show, the tension and anticipation before and the satisfaction of hitting a stage. Nothing wrong with that, of course, and the middle-range tempo and general activity level draws a line between “Turn to Grey” — which does pick up in the middle and get loud, but still does so as part of a larger purpose of mood — and “Cuba Time,” which has more libidinous ends, with the mojitos and the “señoritas” and all. Still, Elektric Mistress — and if they really want to throw people for a loop their next time out, they should call whatever they release next Electrik Mistress, just to be subtle and screw with anyone only paying casual attention — gives three distinct looks at the band’s approach and for a first release and even more so for a first EP, there’s nothing else one could reasonably ask of it than that. There are some production/mix kinks to work out, but hell if I know any big-time New Scotland heavy rock engineers to suggest, and I make it a policy not to rag on self-releasing bands getting their start whether that’s a “debut EP” or a “demo” as it used to be called, so particularly as everything comes through clear and seems to convey their purpose well, I’m not inclined to quibble. And as regards their purpose, these guys aren’t changing the world, and I don’t think they’re trying to, but they’ve got their hearts in the right place as regards rock and an obvious focus on traditional songwriting that makes the most of their choruses.

You can stream the EP in its entirety on the player below. Official release date, once again, is tomorrow, and they’ll have it up on Bandcamp and all the rest.

Please enjoy:

Elektric Mistress, Elektric Mistress EP full stream premiere

Elektric Mistress on self-titled EP:

“Our self-titled EP is the band’s first studio recording. Influenced by the members’ psychedelic and stoner rock roots, each track has a unique sound and showcases their varied influences and songwriting abilities. With riffing low guitar/bass chug fused with B3/Rhodes/Synth sounds, the EP recaptures the retro rock sound of the 70s with a modern tinge, and stands as a tribute to the bands’ early influences.”

The first studio release from Elektric Mistress!

ELEKTRIC MISTRESS is face punching psychedelic rock firmly rooted in what has come before. Channeling the energy of inspirations such as Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, and Pink Floyd the stoner rock quintet is all about the groove.

Each track on the EP has a unique sound and showcases their varied influences and songwriting abilities with riffing low guitar/bass chug fused with B3/Rhodes/Synth sounds, the EP tries to recapture the retro rock sound of the 70s with a modern tinge and stands as a tribute to the band’s early influences.

Elektric Mistress are:
Steve Poole: Vocals
Kyle Cantfell: Guitars
Riley MacDonald: Keys
Kieran Richardson: Bass
Victor Canales: Drums

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Elektric Mistress on Instagram

Elektric Mistress on Bandcamp

Elektric Mistress website