On reading a press release that reads 'Think Trail Of Dead meeting Queens Of The Stone Age on a Melvins Tour and you are have a good idea what the band influences are but that is not the full story there are some folk nods as well', the initial response is to dismiss it as so much hyperbole. I mean, c'mon... chances are, it's just another fistful of hip references that the band in question may aspire to, but don’t have a hope of getting close to.
Looks like I might need some gravy to go with that hat I’ll be eating. Antlered Man really have delivered an amazing single here. To the aforementioned reference points, add a seriously tripped-out element and a hint of Alex Harvey while on a particularly manic trip. I haven't a clue what the song's about, but it's a belting take on mammoth-riff based prog rock, with an overtly crazed, psychotic twist that imbues it with an air of unpredictability. It's as confusing as it is compelling.
'Sugar Sugar', the virtual B-Side, is indeed a cover of the sixties pop hit by The Archies, given a slap around the chops and a treament that involves absolutely no respect but a lot of beefy, distorted bass. Fantastic.