Fuzz, fuzz, fuzz, doom, stoner, more fuzz. Blacklab describe themselves as `the Dark Witch Doom Duo from Osaka Japan'. Chilling cool with built in overdrive. Yuko and Chia are immersed in the Japanese stoner doom scene, and it's no surprise that with this first offering, they've pulled out a calling card that is as `in yer face' and arresting as anything out there. A full frontal assault of distorted riffs, howls and ghostly vocals, as well as bags of riot girrl attitude and lo-fi bravado. But grunge they are not, and neither are they `occult rock' as such. Being nominally a `Doom' band, expect a bucket load of Sabbath worship for sure, but Blacklab have a vibe and experimental undertow akin to their countrymen Boris and the souped up lo-fi fuzz of Ty Segall or Comets On Fire. Tracks like `Black Moon' `Hidden Garden' `Spoon' `Symptom Of The Blacklab' twist, burn and boil into the red. `His Name Is _' is a churning chunky throb. `Spoon' and `Warm Death' offer moments of relief and crushing noise. And `Big Muff' is _ well _ 9 minutes of drum-less fuzz, that will probably do serious damage to your speakers. This first Blacklab release on NHS, is a version of their `Under The Strawberry Moon' album which was released in tiny numbers on CD only in Japan, a pull together of previous tracks and new songs recorded over 2017. But the NHS variant is different. Wayne Adams (Death Pedals, Shitwife, Vodun, Casual Nun) has remixed the tracks to maximum effect, upping the fuzz and weight of the originals. You will not be disappointed. Blacklab are: Yuko Morino, guitar and vocals. Chia Shiraishi, drums.
