Maybe it's just me, but I don't really think of stoner doom as a genre with a big international following. Most of the stoner doom bands I am aware of are American or British. So it came as a bit of a surprise when I was recently contacted by a Polish stoner doom band by the name of Satellite Beaver.
With stoner doom, you pretty much know what to expect from a musical standpoint. Heavy, fuzzed-out riffs, throbbing bass lines, pounding drums, and spaced-out vocals. Stylistically this band has far more in common with the Southern sludgy, stoner/doom stylings of groups like Corrosion of Conformity and Crowbar that the psychedelia-infused Electric Wizard. That is to say that the tracks featured on this EP are much more straight-ahead, rock-oriented and do not tend to get bogged down in lengthy, trippy guitar noodling. There is definitely something to be said for something you can put on and just rock out too. Satellite Beaver provide that here.
This is a very short, but fun EP that shows off some decent songwriting skills. There is enough variation in the individual tracks to retain interest. The vocals in particular are surprisingly versatile, going from a sort of droning croon to the occasional blood-curdling scream. The guitar riffs are ever-evolving and refuse to stay in one place very long. This is definitely roadtrip music. Hell, that's even the name of the last track.
Satellite Beaver has now released two digital-only EPs. They certainly have the talent and a good enough sound to be picked up by some label or other. I found myself very impressed with this band.
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