Release Date: March 21st 2025. Record Label: Desert Records. Formats: CD/DD
Smear Merchants - Tracklisting
1.The Fraile Mourning of Eternity 00:16
2.Wanderer's Wake 04:54
3.Doomsayer's Lament 02:23
4.The Juice is Loosh 04:56
5.Sermons of the Defiant 01:50
6.Smear Merchants 06:15
7.Progression of the Black Sun 08:02
8.Under the Starlit Grave 04:30
9.How to Vibe Alone 07:01
10.Whispers from the Abyss 05:11
Members
Vocals/Guitar: Wayne Rudell:
Bass: Joseph Rudell
Baritone Guitars: Preston Jennings
Drums: Cajun Adams
Review
Doom/Stoner Rockers Fuzz Evil always embraced the “FUZZ” part of their name with only slight and brief excursions into the “EVIL” part of their name. However, that creative stance has changed with their new album Smear Merchants with the band a fully fledged four piece with Cajun Adams being added to drums. Smear Merchants is a gloomy and angst based journey into Fuzz Evil’s psyche where the melodic harmonies of their previous albums being replaced by an obsessive Black ‘N’ Roll sound that still allows Fuzz Evil to be part of the ever growing fabric of the Stoner Rock/Metal scene.
There’s an evil aspect that comes shining throughout Fuzz Evil’s music with some certain commercial poppier aspects being possessed by an evil spirit with some catchy vocals and no-fucks-given based lyrics thats used superbly on early tracks such as Wanderer’s Wake, Doomsayer’s Lament and The Juice Is Loosh. Fuzz Evil don’t lose sight of their offbeat humour which made their earlier albums such an absolute blast to listen to.
Smear Merchants has harsh vocals, sludge metal grooves and distorted passages which I never thought I would hear from the band. This record feels like it’s been conjured by Fuzz Evil making a deal with the devil as they project some gloomy atmospherics that taps right into the 1970’s Occult Horror scene at times which feels inspired by Electric Wizard and dare I say Mastodon at times with the progressive sludge angle that appears.
This does feel like early-era QOTSA jamming with Black Sabbath especially with the more riff-fuelled parts of the album on Doomsayer’s Lament and The Juice Is Loosh. There is a deep sense of fear, dread and paranoia being included on the record which only adds the devilish sense of fun that Fuzz Evil brings to their overall sound.
The vocals are handled primarily by lead singer/guitarist Wayne Ruddell and he’s superbly backed up by his brother Joseph Rudell who handles bass duties. However, the added inclusion of Cajun Adams on drums is the real surprise as he adds a violent and disruptive influence to Fuzz Evil’s music with his wonderful harsh growls and primal drumming.
He’s given Fuzz Evil a more muscular and progressive energy that becomes ever more domineering as times goes on especially on tracks such as: Smear Merchants, Progression Of The Black Sun and How To Vibe Alone being some of the heaviest and meanest tracks on the whole album. Plus I have to give credit to Preston Jennings (Guitars) as he adds some epic Psychedelic and Space Rock textures that showcase a fine style of cinematic storytelling to the album.
However, Fuzz Evil still offer plenty of moments where they relive their early formative years and play a classic style of Hard Rock, Stoner Rock and Fuzz Rock before it’s transformed into their new found style of nightmare fuel and I mean that as a huge compliment.
Smear Merchants is without doubt Fuzz Evil’s best record to date though it could be hard sell for some of their established fanbase to embrace their new found style of Doom Metal creative energy. However, that could be offset by the band gaining a potentially bigger audience with this record allowing them a chance to join the ranks of Doom Metal Overlords in the years to come.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Desert Bloom PR for the promo.
Smear Merchants is available to buy on CD/DD via Desert Records.
Links:
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