Dead Meadow/ Three Kings

Dead Meadow
The Three Kings
(Xemu)

I find stoner/psych rock something of an aficionado's niche, to say the least. Generally I’m not a fan, so I expected this new release from Dead Meadow to really put me to the test. In addition to a fantasy film and new studio recordings, ‘Three Kings’ contains a live album - usually the haven of the extended jam - so you can imagine my fear.
However, it starts well. ‘Til’ Kingdom Come’ contains passages of calm guitars which recall Neil Young (in amongst the napalming psych flange guitar outbursts, naturally). Later bluesy numbers also manage to hypnotise, with their slow heaviness and repetition.
‘At Her Open Door’ speeds things up a notch with some lovely warm guitar tones, and although ‘Whirling’ sounds like Cream being played at the wrong speed, by this point in the record you’re under full hypnosis to Dead Meadow’s soulful acid stew.
At this rate I may even check the live DVD.