BONGZILLA: Gateway CD. Sludge / Doom / Stoner Metal. CHECK samples + VIDEO

BONGZILLA: Gateway [Green amp-fueled sludge never sounded so good. Bongzilla return with their second full-length and boy, was the three year wait worth it. Gateway is heavier, catchier and more rockin than its predecessor Stash. If you thought Matt Pike's tone was massive, wait til you hear the low ends the boys crank out on songs like "Stone A Pig" and "Greenthumb". It's enough to loosen the filling in those rotted teeth. While the "seeds" that were planted on Stash still abound, they have loosened up their sound a bit to give it a bluesier feel. And man, do these songs swing. Even the smoked-seared vocals have a catchiness to them. Just listen to the "Califor-ny-A" part in "Stone A Pig". Wendy Schnieder has done an excellent job in capturing the band's heaviness. The production is a lot cleaner than Stash's while heavier at the same time.It seems the band has taken some cues from it's side project Cuda, by adding a lot of uptempo parts to the mix. This new element really separates them from the Eyehategods, Cavitys and Iron Monkeys of the sludge scene. In fact, Bongzilla have reached a level where new bands will be influenced by them. The power of the riff is strong with this group of weedhounds, so forget about the 1,000 Kyuss clones and buy Gateway

SAMPLES: www.amazon.com/gp/recsradio/radio/B00006HI9Z/ref=pd_krex_dp_a

01. Greenthumb

02. Stone A Pig 03. Sunnshine Green 04. 666Ib. Bongsession 05. Trinity (gigglebush) 06. Gateway 07. Keefmaster 08. Hashdealer
(Total time 46’50”)]

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5.0 out of 5 stars The pinnacle of stoner rock,
This album has everything you could look for in stoner rock... heavy ... riffs that are catchy and pleasing to the ear. Nothing compares to jumping in your car, putting on your 70's aviator sun glasses, and putting in this cd at full volume. Seriously, this album is perfect for driving. The band takes the southern grooves of Eyehategod, add in various marijuana-related samples, and puts an almost black metalish screeching voice over it all. This combines to make a really unique and fresh sound. Once again, Relapse has the best selection in bands.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Gigantic Wall Of Sound,
Bongzilla's 'Getaway' has one of the largest, fuzziest, monumental guitar tones I have ever put my ears through. Smoking dope is the priority for these guys, and making an album full of unbelievably fatass riffs must come a close second. I don't mind too much when the band come out with riff onslaughts such as the opener 'Greenthumb'. You think you've heard the guitar tone and the drums, you think the riff they're playing is as heavy as it gets, `cos its pretty daym heavy. Then suddenly they hit the pedal that must be labelled 'MONSTER FUZZ' as your head is cleanly swiped off. Rarely can a stoner/doom band take a very simple riff and blow you away by the sheer enormity of their sound. Many try, but most become boring. Bongzilla perfect this.

And they can create song structures too, my biggest complaint for fellow riff-monsters Electric Wizard who often sacrifice this area. The title track, and my personal highlight showcases their ability to write sections inside a song with varying time signatures and tempo changes. The main riff is also huge by the way, in case you doubted.

If you're into stoner/doom metal, and you have an addiction to colossal riffs with giant fuzz tones, then do yourself a favour and get this one. My only complaint is the rather grating vocals that detract a star, but apart from that this is a fine addition to your collection.

For fans of Electric Wizard, Orange Goblin, Karma to Burn, Sleep...

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5.0 out of 5 stars a boot full of sludgey stoner rock, ready to kick your ass, October 30, 2003
By Vulgar Pigeon (Weymouth, Massachussets, USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Gateway (Audio CD)
bongzilla keeps on with the stereotype, but its aaaaaa ooookkkkaaayyy brother. besides the obvious lyrical content, this is disturbingly brutal, and crushing stoner rock that's faster than most stoner bands. like a blur of heaviness, that brings you to the "top of the keef moutain"
buy it

definetely buy it