Helltown by Electric Citizen, although released a few years ago, has enough brute urgency in it to headbutt reality right in the nose and laugh in its face. Compared to their earlier albums, Helltown has a bucket tonne more emotion and savagery to it.
Nine tracks crash their way through just around thirty minutes of play time, a rollercoaster ride through which keeping the puke bags ready is advisable. And, just like those infernal devices of medieval torture we call “fun”, Helltown leaves you gasping for more and more. This is the album on which to glut your auditory senses to the point of overload.
The musicians take you right into the depths of heavy psych, right into the wooded forests in the dank reaches of the mind. It’s not entirely clear if it is your mind or theirs. Strong chords, powerful riffs riding on waves of percussive energy mount up for a mad ride over your soul. Ross Dolan (guitars), Nick Vogelpohl (bass), and Nate Wagner (drums) bring the retro-vibed, mushroom-riding sonic boom right to the surface and then beyond.
The real ink in the skin on Helltown are the vocals of Laura Dolan, whose tubes range from shockingly strong wails of hallowed rage to the sombre, sultry depths of introspective insight. Dolan’s voice is reminiscent of the Andrea Ruocco (formerly lead vocalist for Spiral Guru). Resonant and rich, Dolan’s voice cascades with emotional strength. Add her skills with those of the band, and you get a twisting, turning, wrenching gut-punch with delivered with skills untold.
Helltown does not let you get settled for top long. From a mellow (relatively speaking) track like “Father Time”, you are launched into the medium orbit of “Ripper”. The change ups and change downs are wickedly good and it keeps a grip on your nethers like a vice. This is absorbing rock as good psych should be.
Electric Citizen have resisted over-producing the album, letting their skills and prowess in a live show leak through. Looking at the comments older fans have made, Electric Citizen seem to be in their element on stage and in front of a loud, raucous audience. Helltown takes you right there and has little of the polish some might like. I think that raw, edgy feel of band members sweating on you is part of the magic of this album. This is the album for real fans of real music played real loud.
For the vinyl-loving Heretics out there, Electric Citizen have this album on vinyl and still available.
Visit Helltown. It’s a loud place to be.
