Posted in Whathaveyou on April 2nd, 2025 by JJ Koczan
Arizona-based heavy rock and rollers Fuzz Evil are funky-fresh off the release last month of their new album, Smear Merchants (review here), on Desert Records. The four-piece led by the brotherly team of Wayne and Joey Rudell will support their latest outing on a West Coast tour starting May 17 after a couple local shows earlier in the month.
They’ll hit the Pacific Northwest for stops in Portland and Tacoma and swing through Boise en route to share the stage with The Otolith in Salt Lake City, which is a banger show and not a combination of bands you would intuitively put on a bill but a bit of upfront rock and some crush will probably go well toether. It’d be two bands I want to see, at least. So, efficient in that way.
Dates follow as per the PR wire:
Fuzz Evil Embarks on West Coast Tour to Support Smear Merchants!
Arizona heavy psych rockers Fuzz Evil are hitting the road for a West Coast tour from May 18-24 in support of their new album, Smear Merchants, which dropped on March 21. Known for their fuzz-drenched riffs and raw desert energy, Fuzz Evil is bringing their explosive live show to venues across the coast.
A highlight of the run includes a special night in Salt Lake City on May 23 at Urban Lounge, where they’ll join their labelmates The Otolith for a crushing, can’t-miss performance.
Stay tuned for full tour dates and get ready for a sonic onslaught as Fuzz Evil spreads the fuzz!
Fuzz Evil – Smear Merchants West Coast Tour 05.02 Tucson AZ 191 Toole 05.10 Sierra Vista AZ PC’s Lounge 05.17 Oceanside CA Pourhouse Brewery 05.18 Los Angeles CA The Redwood 05.19 Yuba City CA Hooligans 05.20 Portland OR Dante’s 05.21 Tacoma WA The Valley 05.22 Boise ID Realms 05.23 Salt Lake City UT Urban Lounge w/ The Otolith 05.24 Phoenix AZ Yucca Tap Room
Fuzz Evil is: Vocals & Guitar: Wayne Rudell Bass & Backing Vocals: Joseph Rudell Baritone Guitars: Preston Jennings Drums: Cajun Adams
Posted in audiObelisk on January 17th, 2025 by JJ Koczan
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 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 the 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
Posted in Whathaveyou on May 1st, 2024 by JJ Koczan
What do we know about Arizona’s Fuzz Evil? They’re songwriters. No matter what the Sierra Vista-based troupe led by brothers Joey and Wayne Rudell get up to on a given release — whether it’s their new single “Wanderer’s Wake” below, issued ahead of their Desert Records label-debut, Smear Merchants, or the 2023 full-length that preceded it, New Blood (review here), or anything else they’ve done over the eight years since their 2016 self-titled debut (review here) — they have songs. They’ve never been an overly self-indulgent band, never left their audience behind, and their catalog is that much stronger for it.
Even as they pivot to heavier fare with “Wanderer’s Wake” and introduce the lineup they revealed in January alongside their cover of The Cars‘ “Just What I Needed” (speaking of songwriters…), the song remains the priority, and that’s also what lets them pull off the dive into gruff vocals and harder-hitting tones without losing the plot. It’s a less friendly sound on the surface, but still very much Fuzz Evil in the underlying groove and structure. I would say it meets the stated intention toward more of a stoner-doomed feel, and not that I wasn’t already keeping an eye for Smear Merchants — not sure if it’s an EP or LP at this point, but it’s a title, which is more than you sometimes get — but I hear all the more reason to do so in the single’s sub-five-minute stretch.
TL;DR: New Fuzz Evil track mixes it up with a little bit o’ nasty to go around. Dig it:
“Wanderer’s Wake” is the first single from Fuzz Evil’s fourth studio record “Smear Merchants” to be released in late 2024 on Desert Records.
“We are always trying to evolve our music each record and with “Smear Merchants” it will be our take on more doom metal/stoner.” -FUZZ EVIL
As purveyors of chug-heavy, fuzz-laden riffs, this heavy rock ensemble unleashes a monolithic fuzzpocalypse that reverberates through your ears and straight to your soul. With raw, gritty Fuzz and unique tones, FUZZ EVIL combines baritone fuzz, extraordinary riffs, and heavy bass tones to create a sound that’s as soulful as it is earth-shattering.
To stay updated on Fuzz Evil’s latest releases and upcoming shows, follow them on handles here:https://linktr.ee/fuzzevil
Song written by Fuzz Evil Song Recorded, Produced, and Mixed by: Joseph Rudell Art by: Joseph Rudell
Fuzz Evil is: Vocals & Guitar: Wayne Rudell Bass & Backing Vocals: Joseph Rudell Baritone Guitars: Preston Jennings Drums: Cajun Adams
Posted in Whathaveyou on January 9th, 2024 by JJ Koczan
Not so terribly far removed from the Sept. 2023 release of their latest full-length, New Blood (review here), Sierra Vista, Arizona’s Fuzz Evil would seem to have answered the call for some themselves. Founded by brothers Joey Rudell and Wayne Rudell, the band have welcomed Cajun Adam, who is at least their fourth drummer, and multi-instrumentalist/guitarist Preston Jenning, who’ll make their debut with the now-a-four-piece band on the new EP, Smear Merchants. When’s that out? I don’t know, but they covered The Cars‘ “Just What I Needed” — and I’m sorry for getting the song stuck in your head just by mentioning the title, Ric Ocasek‘s magnum opus of catchy is infectious — and that’s a fun nugget to go on for today.
Looking at the below, I’m not actually sure “Just What I Needed” will show up on the EP, either, but I guess we’ll find out sometime in the coming months. Until then, the cover tune and the stream of New Blood are down at the bottom there and you can read more from the PR wire in the blue text.
Enjoy:
Fuzz Evil Expands Sonic Horizon as a Four-Piece Band with New Single and EP Release
Fuzz Evil, the powerhouse three-piece known for their infectious blend of doom and stoner rock, is set to kick off 2024 with a bang. On January 5, the band will drop their latest single, a cover of The Cars’ classic hit “Just What I Needed,” available on all major streaming platforms. This marks a thrilling departure from their signature sound and showcases the band’s versatility.
Following the single release, Fuzz Evil will treat fans to a brand new EP titled “Smear Merchants,” an eagerly anticipated follow-up to their 2023 ,”New Blood ” album. “Smear Merchants” is poised to captivate listeners with its immersive sonic experience, delving deeper into the realms of doom and stoner rock. Serving as a sister record to their self-titled release in 2016, this EP promises to deliver a fresh perspective on Fuzz Evil’s evolving musical journey.
In 2023, Fuzz Evil expanded their sonic horizons by adding two new talented members to their lineup, further enriching their musical tapestry. Preston Jenning, a versatile multi-instrumentalist, joined the band to lend his skills on guitar, baritone, and synth duties. His musical prowess is expected to add new dimensions to Fuzz Evil’s evolving sound. Cajun Adam, the newest addition on drums, brings a rhythmic intensity that complements the band’s dynamic energy.
Fuzz Evil has built a solid reputation in the rock scene, and “Smear Merchants” is poised to be a milestone in their discography. Fans can look forward to a sonic journey that transcends boundaries, blending the familiar with the unexpected.
To stay updated on Fuzz Evil’s latest releases and upcoming shows, follow them on handles here:https://linktr.ee/fuzzevil
Posted in Reviews on November 27th, 2023 by JJ Koczan
Don’t ask me if the ‘quarter’ in question is Fall or Winter, and I’m still planning another QR probably in early January or even December if I can sneak it, but I was able to sneak this week in while no one was looking at the calendar — mostly, that is, while I wasn’t filling said calendar with other stuff — and I decided to make it happen. I even used the ol’ Bing AI to make a header image for it. I was tired of all the no-color etchings. It’s been a decade of that at this point. I’ll try this for a bit and see how I feel about it. The kind of thing that matters pretty much only to me.
This might go to 70, but for right now it’s 50 releases Monday to Friday starting today, 10 per day. I know the drill. You know the drill. Let’s get it going.
Quarterly Review #1-10:
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Negative Reaction, Zero Minus Infinity
Holy fucking shit this rips. You want sludge? Call the masters. There are two generations of bands out there right now trying to tap into the kind of slow and ultra-heavy disaffection — not to mention the guitar tone — of Negative Reaction, and yet, no hype whatsoever. This record didn’t come to me from some high-level public relations concern. It came from Kenny Bones, who founded Negative Reaction over 30 years ago in Long Island (he and thus the band are based in West Virginia now) and whose perpetual themes between crushing depression and the odd bit of Star Wars-franchised space opera have rarely sounded more intentionally grueling. Across six songs and a mood-altering 46 minutes, Bones, bassist KJ and drummer Brian Alien bludgeon with rawness and volume-worship weight that, frankly, is the kind of thing riff-dudes on social media should be tripping over themselves to be first to sing its praises, the lurch in “Back From the Sands” feeling sincere in its unconscious rifference (that’s a reference you make with a riff) to Saint Vitus‘ “Born Too Late,” and maybe Negative Reaction were, or maybe they were born too early, or whatever, but it’s not like they’ve been a fit at any point in the last 30-plus years — cheeky horror riff chugging in “Space Hunter,” all-out fuckall-punker blast in “I’ll Have Another” before the 13-minute flute-laced (yes, Bones is on it) cosmic doom finish of “Welcome to Infinity,” etc., reaffirming square-peg status — because while there’s an awful lot of sludge out there, there’s only ever been one Negative Reaction. Bones‘ and company’s angry adventures, righteous and dense in sound, continue unabated.
Arizona brothers Wayne and Joey Rudell return with New Blood, the first Fuzz Evil full-length since High on You (review here) in 2018, and make up for lost time with 53 minutes of new material across 13 songs from the post-Queens of the Stone Age rock at the outset in “Suit Coffin” to the slow, almost Peter Gabriel-style progressivism of “Littlest Nemo,” the nighttime balladry of “Gullible’s Travel” or the disco groove of “Keep on Living.” Those three are tucked at the end, but Fuzz Evil telegraph new ideas and departures early in “My Own Blood” and even the speedier “Run Away,” with its hints of metal, pulls to the side from “Souveneers,” the hooky “G.U.M.O.C.O.,” a cut like “Heavy Glow” (premiered here) finding some middle ground between attitude-laced desert rock and the expansions thereupon of some New Blood‘s tracks. Shout to “We’ve Seen it All” as the hidden gem. All Fuzz Evil have ever wanted is to write songs and maybe make someone — perhaps even you — dance at a show. With the obvious sweat and soul put into New Blood, a little boogieing doesn’t seem like too much to ask.
A second full-length from Serbia’s Cardinal Point, Man or Island asks its central question — are you a man or an island — in the leadoff title-track. I’m not sure what being one or the other delineates, but masculinity would seem to be preferred judging by the Down-style riffing of “Stray Dog” or the heavy-like-1991 “Right ‘n’ Ready,” which feels like it was written for the stage, whether or not it actually was. “Sunrise” borders on hard country with its uber-dudeliness, but closer “This Chest” offers tighter-twisting, Lo-Pan-style riffing to cap. The tracks are pointedly straightforward, making no pretense about where the band is coming from or what they want to be doing as players. The grooves swing big and the choruses are delivered with force. You wouldn’t call it groundbreaking, but the Vranje-based four-piece aren’t trying to revolutionize heavy so much as to speak to various among those traditions that birthed it. They succeed in that here, and in making the results their own.
Voices far more expert than mine have given pinpointed analyses of Vlimmer‘s goth-as-emotive-vehicle, semi-electronic, sometimes-heavy post-punk, New Dark Wave, etc., stylistic reach as relates to the Berlin-based solo artist’s latest full-length, Zerschöpfung, but hearing The Cure in “Makks” and “Fatalideal” taken to a place of progressive extrapolation on “Platzwort” and to hear the Author & Punisher-informed slow industrial churn of the penultimate “Todesangst” become the backdrop for a dreamy vocal like Tears for Fears if they stayed up all night scribbling in their notebook because they had so much to say. Vlimmer (né Alexander Leonard Donat) has had a productive run since the first numbered EPs started showing up circa 2015, and Zerschöpfung feels like a summation of the style he’s established as his own, able to speak to various sides of underground and outsider musics without either losing itself in the emotionalism of the songs or sublimating identity to genre.
Dutch sludge metallers No Gods No Masters may seem monolithic at first on their second full-length, the self-released Torment, but the post-metallic dynamics in the atmospheric guitar on lead cut “Into Exile” puts the lie to the supposition. Not that there isn’t plenty of extreme crush to go around in “Into Exile” and the four songs that follow — second track “Towering Waves” and closer “End” on either side of the 10-minute mark, “Such Vim and Vigor” and “A God Among the Waste” shorter like “Into Exile” in a five-to-six-minute range — as the band move from crawling ambience to consuming, scream-topped ultra-doom, leave bruises with elbows thrown before the big slowdown in “Such Vim and Vigor” and tear ass regardless of tempo through the finale, and while they never quite let go of the extremity of their purpose, neither do they forget that their purpose is more than extremity. Torment sounds punishing superficially — certainly the title gives a hint that all is not sunshine and puppies — but a deeper listen is met by the richness of No Gods No Masters‘ approach.
Italian psych rockers Ananda Mida are joined by a host of guests throughout their third full-length, Reconciler, including a return appearance from German singer-songwriter Conny Ochs on the extended heavy psych blueser “Swamp Thing” (14:52) and the four-part finale “Doom and the Medicine Man (Pt. V-VIII)” (22:09), which draws a thread through the history of prog and acid rocks, kraut and space applying no less to the 12-minute “Lucifer’s Wind” as to the surf-riffing “Reconciling” after — the latter gets a reprise on platter two of the 83-minute 2LP — as Ananda Mida dig deep into the shining thrust in the early verses of “Never Surrender” that give over to thoughtful jamming in the song’s second half, finding proto-metallic resolve in “Following the Light” before reconciling “Reconciling (Reprise)” and unfurling “Doom and the Medicine Man” like the lost ’70s coke-rock epic it may well be in some other universe, complete with the acoustic postscript. It’s two records’ worth of ambitious, and it’s two records’ worth of record. This is exploratory on a stylistic level. Searching.
Lumbering out of El Paso, Texas (where folks know what salsa should taste like), with seven tracks across a 23-minute debut EP, Ojo Malo follow a Sabbathian course of harder-edged doom, thick in its groove through “Crow Man” after the “Intro” and speedier with an almost nu-metal crunch in “Charon the Ferryman.” There’s Clutch and C.O.C. influences in the riffing, but there are tougher elements too, a tension that wouldn’t have been out of place 28 years ago on a Prong record, and the swing in “Black Trip Lord” has an undercurrent of aggression that comes forward in its chugging second half. The penultimate “Grim Greefo Rising” offers more in terms of melody after its riffy buildup, and “Executioner” reveals the Judas Priest that’s been in the band’s collective heart all the while. Bookended with manipulated sounds from the recordings in “Intro” and “Outro,” Black Light Fever Tripping sounds exactly like it doesn’t have time for your bullshit so get your gear off stage now and don’t break down your cymbals up there or it’s fucking on.
Druid Fluids — aka Adelaide, Australia’s Jamie Andrew, plus a few friends on drums, piano, and so on — inhabits a few different personae out of psychedelic historalia throughout Then, Now, Again & Again, finding favorites in The Beatles in “Flutter By,” “Into Me I See” (both with sitar), and “Layers” while peopling other songs specifically with elements drawn from David Bowie and the solo work of Lennon and McCartney, all of which feels like fair game for the meticulously-arranged 11-song collection. “Sour’s Happy Fantasy” offers sci-fi fuzz grandeur, while “Timeline” is otherworldly in all but the central strum holding it to the ground — a singularly satisfying melody — and “Out of Phase” swaggers in like Andrew knows he was born in the wrong time. He might’ve been, but he seems to have past, present and future covered either way in this material, some of which was reportedly written when he was a teenager but which has no doubt grown more expansive in the intervening years.
The years between their 2017 self-titled three-songer EP and the forthcoming 11-track debut full-length, Saturn V, would seem to have found Philly heavy rockers Gibbous Moon refining their approach in terms of craft and process. “Blue Shelby” has a turn on guitar like Dire Straits as vocalist Noelle Felipe (also bass) drops references to Scarface in “Blue Shelby” and brings due classicism to Mauro Felipe‘s guitar on “Ayadda.” That song, as well as “Everything” and closer “Peacemaker,” tie the EP to the LP, but Noelle, Mauro and drummer Michael Mosley are unquestionably more confident in their delivery, whether it’s the bass in the open reaches of “Sine Wave” or the of-course-it’s-speed-rock “Follow that Car” and its punker counterpart “Armadillo.” Space rock is a factor in “Indivisible,” and “Inflamed” is almost rockabilly in its tense verse, but wherever Gibbous Moon go, their steps are as sure as the material itself is solid. I’m not sure when this is actually out, if it’s 2023 or 2024, but heads up on it.
Arranged shortest to longest between the ah-oo-oo-ah-ah hookiness of “Sucker’s Disease” (3:03), the nodder rollout of “Daughters of the Sun” (5:47) and the reach into psych-blues jamming in “Goddess Land” (7:03), Mother Magnetic‘s self-titled three-song EP is the first public offering from the Brisbane four-piece of vocalist Rox, guitarist James, bassist Tim and drummer Danny, and right into the later reaches of the last of those tracks, the band’s intentions feel strongly declarative in establishing their melodic reach, an Iommi-circa-’81 take on riffmaking, and a classic boozy swagger to the vocals to match. There was a time, 15-20 years ago, when demos like this ruled the land and were handed to you, burned onto archaic CD-Rs, in the vain hope you might play them in your car on the way home from the show. To not do so in this case would be inadvisable. There’s potential in the songwriting, yes, but also on a performance level, for growth as individuals and as a group, and considering where Mother Magnetic are starting in terms of chemistry, that’s all the more an exciting prospect.
Posted in Questionnaire on July 27th, 2023 by JJ Koczan
The Obelisk Questionnaire is a series of open questions intended to give the answerer an opportunity to explore these ideas and stories from their life as deeply as they choose. Answers can be short or long, and that reveals something in itself, but the most important factor is honesty.
Based on the Proust Questionnaire, the goal over time is to show a diverse range of perspectives as those who take part bring their own points of view to answering the same questions. To see all The Obelisk Questionnaire posts, click here.
Thank you for reading and thanks to all who participate.
The Obelisk Questionnaire: Wayne & Joey Rudell of Fuzz Evil
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How do you define what you do and how did you come to do it?
Wayne: Well, we’re two brothers that make some of the dirtiest fuzz rock this side of the San Pedro River.
Joey: Wayne and I have been playing music together since we were little kids. Our parents were ungodly religious, so we ended up starting out playing in Church. At one point we were playing 7 days a week if you include the practices for church and our own band including all the shows/services.
Wayne: Of course, that ended when they found out we listened to Marilyn Manson and Tool.
Joey: Yeah, we’ll the church started turning to a Cult anyway.
Wayne: Hell, but at least we got to learn how to play gospel out of it.
Joey: Right lol. So, our first band was called 12tone. It’s cool to have a recording from when you were just a kid. Some of those songs are a Jam. We were totally a Prog Rock band. Probably because we were so into Tool at the time.
Wayne: We have a bandcamp for 12tone still out there. https://12tone.bandcamp.com/album/vertigo
Joey: Man, the song Vertigo is still a jam. We played a bunch of local shows as 12tone and then we just kind of morphed into Powered Wig Machine. All the same band members. Really nothing changed except the style of music.
Wayne: The song Seven Four kinda got us into the whole stoner rock movement. It’s wild because our mom was an acute paranoid schizophrenic and the bridge section of Seven Four has a recording of a phone call I got from her.
Joey: I’d say that our very first Powered Wig Machine album still had some 12tone feel to it. Like the song Death by Suplex. That still was very progressive. We played a ton of shows as Powered Wig Machine and really went on some great Journeys. I guess Fuzz Evil happened because Daniel (Drums) and Dusty (Guitar) were both having kids and couldn’t commit as much time to playing anymore.
Wayne: Joey and I wanted to do something different, and it quickly became our main project.
Joey: I really like Fuzz Evil, it’s something that is more akin to Wayne and I playing when we were kids. Just the two of us writing riffs. We play off each other well.
Describe your first musical memory.
Joey: We’ve been playing music together for as long as we can remember.
Wayne: I have distinct memory of Joey and I jamming. We were probably 16 and 12, maybe younger. We were recording on one of those old tape recorders where you had to press down the play and record button at the same time. We had our little amps cranked up to 10 rocking out something fierce.
Joey: Right in the middle of the recording our Mom burst into the room and screams at us “Turn it down” “Turn ..it..DOWN” “THINGS ARE FALLING”.
Wayne: hahaha. The moment she walked away we started jamming again.
Joey: I remember listening to that recording like a 1000 times. It was hilarious to hear the few second pause after the door closes and then us starting to play again.
Describe your best musical memory to date.
Wayne: Probably playing with Eagles of Death Metal at the Rialto Theatre in Tucson.
Joey: That was a rad show. That show was pretty much sold out.
Wayne: After the show we were hanging out with Jesse, Danger Ehren (from Jackass) who was working as their camera man, and the guys from Black Magic Flower Power showed up for a real rager in the Rialto green room. What a fun night.
Joey: I know this is not like a single memory, but honestly, I’d say that the first time we went on tour up the coast with Orgo will always hold a special place in my heart. We had a blast. Shenanigans every night.
When was a time when a firmly held belief was tested?
Wayne: I’d say, my views on how to put out music and the music scene in general. I guess I had this old guard view of how things had to be done. Because that was the way they were always done. Truth is, there is no right or wrong way to do it. Nowadays it’s even easier for us with platforms like TikTok, Wix, Bandcamp, etc.. You can build a whole career, with a huge demand, without even leaving your house. Within the last year I’ve seen so many people in the entertainment industry gain notoriety on Tiktok without ever touring. Then the moment they do tour they are playing major venues. It’s changing the whole way I’m looking at what we are doing with Fuzz Evil.
Joey: So was this question supposed to be about music or are you trying to take us down the rabbit hole. Honestly, I can’t really think of any belief I firmly hold. Beliefs are perspectives based on assumptions. Most things in life are gray, not black and white. If you go down any path long enough you’ll realize that believing anything too much is probably steeped in logical fallacies. Haha, this perspective probably stems from the emotional trauma of having a schizophrenic mother, and being punished for illogical things as a child.
Where do you feel artistic progression leads?
Wayne: I think artistic progression is a double-edged sword. It can lead you to some real genre inspiring music, similar to what King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard do on every record, or it can lead you down a path where it’s almost like an inside joke, musically. I love Mars Volta, but their last couple albums were so progressive that they lost us. Still an amazing band, but it’s a double-edged sword.
Joey: I’m with you on that. I’d also say that artistic progression has a lot to do with why you want to progress artistically. Some people write music for themselves, and some people write music for others. Which one takes precedence will drive the progression. I think there should be a balance between the two. I love playing music because I like to make something I can look back on with pride and for others to appreciate. For us, even though it was the same members between 12tone and Powered Wig Machine we changed band names and genres. Now we are on to Fuzz Evil, still Wayne and I. I don’t think there is any right or wrong way to go about it.
How do you define success?
Joey: I believe that our lives are our legacy. To me creating something that others appreciate, whether it be art, music, or just memories is success to me. I always joke that you can spend your entire life staying at home doing what you always do and years will go by and you’ll have no distinct memories, or you can go out and do something wild and have a great story to tell.
Wayne: I’d define success as when people look back on your whole body of work and it holds some weight to it. Maybe, we’ll never be arena famous, but I love making music and that’s the true inspiration. When people look back at Fuzz Evil or Powered Wig Machine, it might not hold as much weight as Led Zepplin or Black Sabbath, but it may hold its own like Rare Earth. I’m ok with being the Rare Earth of stoner rock.
What is something you have seen that you wish you hadn’t?
Wayne: Uh, Two Girls one Cup?
Joey: That’s a good one. I still wish I never say that Youtube video of those two dogs humping and then the one dies mid banging. In all honesty, I’ve been pretty lucky in life, and haven’t had to experience anything extremely traumatic that keeps me up at night.
Describe something you haven’t created yet that you’d like to create.
Wayne: We are currently making shorts of an animated series called “Fuzz Off”. It’s an animated series that personifies guitar pedals. Kinda like South Park meets Beavis and Butthead. I’m really hoping we can get a deal with someone like adult Swim to make these full-time.
What do you believe is the most essential function of art?
Wayne: I believe it’s the tangible expression of who you are as a person. When a song is heavy or beautiful you are experiencing that artist’s interpretations of those emotions through their life experiences.
Joey: To get laid or help others get laid. Haha, I mean think about it. What IS the purpose of art. At a fundamental level it’s peacocking. Seriously though, as an artist I’d say the most essential function of art is to express myself and communicate my emotions. As an appreciator I’d say the most essential function is escapism. Something that helps you forget about everything for just a moment.
Something non-musical that you’re looking forward to?
Wayne: Season 18 of APEX. I’m a huge gamer. They really messed up the ranking in Season 17. Everyone hit the highest rank you can hit. Something like 20% of the player base. I hit Masters, haha. Looking forward to something a little more challenging in Season 18. Hit me up, I’m Wolf_Blitzinator on PS5 if you want to get down.
Joey: Uh, I don’t know. Retirement? Actually, I’m a huge gamer too, but I haven’t touch Diablo 4 or the Zelda yet because I’ve been too busy working on music/art stuff. Looking forward to playing these. I mean, if we are dropping gamertags I’m Shakalo on everything.
Posted in audiObelisk on July 6th, 2023 by JJ Koczan
Tomorrow, July 7, Sierra Vista, Arizona’s Fuzz Evil will release their first new music in five years. The band propelled by the brotherly duo of Wayne and Joey Rudell have been proffering outsider desert rock since they showed up on a 2014 split with Chiefs as they evolved out of Powered Wig Machine, and their new single “Heavy Glow” and upcoming fourth album, New Blood, help get the point across that the band are back and looking to catch as many ears as possible. Last heard from with 2018’s High on You(review here) — they also had the of-era quarantine video “Better off Alone (Redux)” in 2020 — the Rudells look to issue New Blood and claim their place in the desert-heavy pantheon in the coming months, and “Heavy Glow” provides an enticing glimpse at some of what might be on offer.
Which means that, no, I haven’t heard the whole record yet, and no, I don’t have an exact release date yet. Fuzz Evil have never been ones for working without a plan — their songs are well structured and the band seems to function similarly — and in listening to “Heavy Glow,” at least part of the objective seems to have been an expansion of their sound. In under three minutes, Fuzz Evil remove themselves from baseline desert rock and can be heard using the production of the song itself as an instrument. Even before the layered vocals of its chorus, the buildup of the riff around which the song works — insistent but not overbearing, actively working to engage the audience from the first second onward — and the shift into the first verse, the layering there and the shift to the bridge and back; these smooth changes and the shifts in vocal effects and the extra voices in the chorus demonstrate the band’s branching out in terms of sound. Clearly a professional presentation was somewhere among their goals for their latest batch of material, and at least with “Heavy Glow,” they hit that mark easily.
And yes, there was a band called Heavy Glow. They broke up in 2017 and so far as I know, the song is not about them. If I’m wrong about that, fine. Either way, it’s not a diss track or anything. Would be awesome though if bands started writing songs about how cool other bands are. Maybe some day we’ll get there. Same team and all that.
With the caveat of more to come, here’s “Heavy Glow” a day early. The pre-save link and more info follow, courtesy of the band via the PR wire.
Please enjoy:
Fuzz Evil Unleashes the Dirtiest Glow Up from the Deserts of Arizona with New Single “Heavy Glow”
Prepare to be engulfed in the relentless, scorching waves of desert fuzz rock as Fuzz Evil, the formidable band from the Borderlands of Arizona, returns with their long-awaited single “Heavy Glow.” Brothers Wayne and Joey Rudell, the dynamic duo behind Fuzz Evil, are back with a vengeance, ready to ignite the music scene once again. This powerful track is the first glimpse of their upcoming third release titled “New Blood,” marking the band’s triumphant return after a three-year hiatus.
Fuzz Evil has long been known for their signature brand of gritty, unapologetic fuzz rock that transports listeners straight to the arid heart of the Arizona desert. Since their inception, the band has been celebrated for their electrifying live performances and ear-rattling studio recordings, building a dedicated fan base both locally and globally.
“Heavy Glow” stands as a testament to the Rudell brothers’ musical prowess, delivering a auditory assault of colossal riffs and thunderous rhythms that will leave fans craving for more. The song showcases Fuzz Evil’s growth and evolution while staying true to their desert rock roots. Wayne’s hauntingly raw vocals intertwine seamlessly with The layers of bass and guitar work, creating an entrancing synergy that echoes through every note.
The single “Heavy Glow” will be released on all major digital platforms on [7.7.23], setting the stage for the arrival of “New Blood.” Fuzz Evil invites all fans, both new and old, to join them on this exhilarating musical odyssey.
Tracklist: 1. Suit Coffin 2. My Own Blood 3. Run Away 4. Perfect Slut 5. Heavy Glow 6. The Silver Bells 7. G.U.M.O.C.O 8. We’ve Seen it All 9. New Blood 10. Souveneers 11. Littlest Nemo 12. Gullible’s Travel 13. Keep on Livin’
Posted in Whathaveyou on December 21st, 2020 by JJ Koczan
I don’t know how much cash a name-your-price comp is bringing in ultimately, but the not-cynical part of me wants to think supporting bands is still something humans are interested in doing, so here’s another way to do that. And if you name your price and your price is nothing, that’s not me trying to guilt you. Over 800,000 people filed for first-time unemployment insurance last month in the US. England has super-covid. Shit is tough everywhere and for everyone. There’s a reason it’s name-your-price and not $35.
As for critical observation, here’s one: John Gist does good work, Ripple Music does good work and these bands do good work. Stay tuned for more heavy hitting insights on the next episode. Make sure you like and subscribe.
All of the following comes from Bandcamp:
The Revolution Lives ***A Benefit for the Bands!***
In this day of the coronavirus-enforced shutdown of live shows, Ripple and Vegas Rock Revolution wanted to join forces to rejoice about all the great live music we’ve experienced. Based in Vegas, John Gist, running VRR has created a heavy underground scene where none existed! From his infamous Planet Desert Rock weekends to his numerous shows at Danny Koker’s Count’s Vamp’d, the Beauty Bar, and Bunkhouse Saloon among others, VRR has brought tons of Ripple bands to Vegas to rock the hell outta the desert.
So, now let’s celebrate. Think of this compilation as a virtual show… holding space until the real ones can resume.
Dig into this free comp, made just for you, summarizing all the Ripple family that has journeyed to the desert to play for VRR. Gist himself chose this tracklist and the incomparable Kyrre Bjurling provided the stellar art.
Although the album is “pay what you want” any proceeds raised for the purchase of this compilation will go to help out all the bands that have missed out on being able to perform live shows.
Dig in, and let’s unite when this is over to rock the hell out once again!
Tracklisting: 1. Brutal Winds – Freedom Hawk 04:54 2. Oklahoma Black Magic – The Watchers 04:29 3. Nothing to Lose – Void Vator 03:43 4. Chopper Wired – War Cloud 03:34 5. City Nights – Mothership 05:22 6. Lonely One Kenobi – Mos Generator 05:06 7. Into the Shredder – Ape Machine 03:56 8. Ain’t Trying to Go Down Slow – Shotgun Sawyer 03:16 9. Sun and Mist – Salem’s Bend 05:16 10. Hour Glass – High Priestess 06:46 11. Isolation – Wino 04:12 12. Three Minutes to Midnight – Wo Fat 06:20 13. Fathoms – Horseburner 08:12 14. Sunshine of Your Love – Blackwulf 03:38 15. The Grace of Time – Mr Bison 07:22 16. Light of Day – The Hazytones 03:56 17. Hypnotized – Red Desert 04:17 18. Fog of Whores – Cortez 04:55 19. Cactus Highways – Red Mesa 03:09 20. Better Off Alone – Fuzz Evil 04:42 21. Low Tide – Chiefs 03:48
