Red Fang – Arrows

Release Date: June 4, 2021

Label: Relapse Records

Red Fang, the stoner rock quartet from Oregon, released their fifth full-length record in June. Stoner rock bands are seemingly a dime a dozen these days. However, Red Fang consistently deliver their distinctive brand of grungy, sludgy stoner rock. You might have to brush the grit off this record if you pick up a physical copy. The drums sound like they were recorded at the bottom of a pool. Side note: they actually were. The title track, Arrows, is more than thick bass and distortion. It’s exciting and enthralling…maybe even catchy??? Two High is high octane is a hot cauldron of rage. My one complaint is that tracks like Fonzi Scheme have incredible build-ups and make a lot of the right moves but don’t the listener a sufficient payoff for their patience. The album drags in places. However, Days Collide is revelatory. This is straight 90s grunge filtered through bong water. Why is my favorite track on the album and you can actually hear arena-rock-ready (see Soundgarden) chords and vocals. The dynamic closer, Funeral Coach, is also worth a listen.

Play: 3, 5, 9, 11 & 13

FCC: 9 & 10