(Crossover Progressive) Simeon Soul Charger - Meet Me In The Afterlife - 2011, MP3, 192 kbps

After releasing two EPs over the last couple of years, Ohio four piece Simeon Soul Charger have finally put together their debut full length album, Meet Me In The Afterlife, which is the first non RPWL related release to be put out by that band's new Gentle Art Of Music label. The album title may make this album appear to be all doom and gloom, or stoner and metal, however in actual fact what SSC have put together here is an interesting mixture of classic rock (ala Zeppelin), progressive song structures, stoner fuzz and a huge dollop of The Beatles from around The White Album. Initially that blend makes for some tough listening, with the at times wandering themes leaving as much confusion as clarification. Live with the album for a little while though and things do start to make sense, persevere further and the rewards become all too apparent.
The diversity between the songs on Meet Me In The Afterlife may be just a little too much of a leap of faith for some, however the big thick riffs and gently layered vocals of "And He Skinned Them Both" is a great example of how to bring all of what SCC have together in one coherent outburst. Wailing feedback gives way to a huge riff that Kyuss would be proud of before a quirky verse offers a more psychedelic, but equally heavy slant. Then a sledgehammer of Page like guitars leads into another stoner riff and all the way through the vocals are a constant reminder of The Beatles! I know, I know, that all sounds just too convoluted to work, but make no mistake, Simeon Soul Charger have the ability to make this eight minutes of unrelated music come together seamlessly. All these ideas continue to appear throughout the album, although not always jammed into each and every song. "Please" has the thump and twang of bluegrass, "Europa's Garden" is pure Masters Of Reality riffs, catchy choruses and wonderful vocals, while the closing trio of "A Child's Prayer", "Dear Mother" and "The Swallowing Mouth" really do show that SSC spent far too much time listening to psychedelic era Beatles.
Classy, sassy, clever and intricate, as debuts go Meet Me In The Afterlife is a bold and confident statement from a band that would appear destined for big things.

Line up:
Aaron Brooks - vox,guitar,keyboard,doumbek,bucket of nails
Rick Phillips - guitar,vox,mandolin,tambourine,washboard,jug of coins
Spider Monkey - bass guitar,banjo
Joe Kidd - drums,vox,doumbek,djembe,hammer,board,shakers,tambourine