Chapstik

"Hillbilly heavy metal art stoner cockfight music." That's how Chapstik (notice the lawsuite-proof spelling) characterizes their music, and I'm tempted to just leave my review at that. Because it's damned accurate. But then I wouldn't be able to tell you about how great it is to review music in the stoner/doom genre, because there are so many local masterpieces lurking out there in the hinterlands, and how Chapstik has already managed to carve out their own demented place in music on their very first album, something most bands never do.

Which is all true. Thanks to Arz and Hochi, I'm now turned on to one of the year's best rockin' platters, 'Barnburner.' Brothers! Sisters! It's just a review away, just a review away.....Any fan of heavy rawkin' needs to hear this. It's hard to believe that there is still unclaimed musical territory in genres like doom and/or stoner and/or riffrock or whatever, but like many a fine band Chapstik has found their own turf. From the 'Animal Farm-' style barnyard rebellion artwork on the cover, you're in for a tasty treat from the get-go. 'Cream of Everything' starts things off with rolling drums , feedback, and furious stoner riffing that sets a high bar for quality, a bar that only the best bands can jump over with ease. No problem for these guys. 'It's 8:05' sounds like the MC5 if they would have spent more time on opiates and hallucinogens and less time at the dragstrip. 'Man-Hyman Bulldozer' (har har) starts off all jazzy, with guitars and some retro organ doing a slow build to southern dementia, and 'Slo OJ' begins quietly, gradually transforming into a 'Dirt-' era Stooges or early Mudhoney stomper with a superb guit solo. 'Retrocution' shows some hardcore roots, while ' Black Opium Fermata' cools things off with a slow Melvins/Men of Porn plod.

This is heroin riffrock for the masses. Does it seem as if it's all over the map, stylistically? Well, add in Hank III, 500 Feet of Pipe, Greatdayforup, Speedealer, Honky, Heroin Sheiks, Super Heavy Goatass, and Ironboss, all held together with a roll-your-eyes (check the songtitles) sense of humor. But believe it or not, although you may hear bits and pieces of all of the above, Chapstik are remarkably coherent. The quality songwriting, treated vocals, guitar tone, and most of all the consistent allegiance to The Riff work together to make for a most satisfying Heavy Music Experience. A left-field bull's-eye. Recommended. - Hellride Music (Kevin McHugh)

You can’t extol the virtues of stoner rock enough, that underappreciated subgenre of rock ’n’ roll. In fact, by hurling fistfuls of thund-and-speed, bands like Chapstik appeal to the baser self, the self that cannot resist the power of the head band and the flashing of the metal sign - the self that knows why it feels so good to be bad. Chapstik is pure adrenaline. - Metrotimes Detroit (Eve Doster)