ALBUM REVIEW: Dabbing (LIVE) Rosin In Europe – Bongzilla
BONGZILLA are a band who are definitely at home when they’re playing live and their latest live album entitled Dabbing (LIVE) Rosin In Europe sees the Wisconsin weed worshippers in their natural habitat. Listening to their odes to marijuana, the only thing missing are the clouds of smoke emitting from the speakers.
This live album consists of tracks recorded at festivals and gigs in Italy (the Duna Jam festival in Sardinia), Poznan in Poland and Belfast in Northern Ireland and it sees the band on fine form. Despite the fact that the album was recorded in three different locations, it flows well and could pass as one entire BONGZILLA gig as it gives a great representation of the band’s live experience (sans those plumes of weed smoke, although those of course could be added for an all important extra effect!).
For a band who are so utterly consumed by weed smoking, BONGZILLA are a remarkably tight musical unit especially when it comes to playing live, and even though this is the case on the songs here, the fact that they are live renditions gives them that extra bit of freedom to change from their studio recorded counterparts. The psychedelic sludge masters start things off with a ripping version of Sundae Driver before proceeding to tear through songs like King Of Weed, Greenthumb and Hippie Stick and finally ending with an epic rendition of Gestation, which with its introduction of “We’re going to play one more song then we’re all going to go get high” couldn’t be more perfect for a BONGZILLA gig.
The vocals of singer/bassist Mike “Muleboy” Makela sound even harsher and more smoke-ravaged than on record but this just adds to the experience and his grooving bass riffs sound even heavier here while the other two members of BONGZILLA in guitar player Jeff “Spanky” Schultz and drummer Mike “Magma” Henry play loud and with passion as they unleash their nonstop riffs and pounding grooves respectively. This album is a great representation of the band’s live show but it does pale in comparison to actually seeing them and hopefully it won’t be long before the band hit the road again and we can witness these very songs in all their glory with smoke consuming the venue, which is the perfect environment to witness the glory of BONGZILLA.
Long live BONGZILLA and their heavy and spaced out odes to Mary Jane as they are one of the heaviest, harshest and best to do this style of music; here’s hoping that a new record as well as those essential live shows are in the offing soon so we can revel in the band’s herb filled majesty over and over again. Until then these live renditions more than hit the spot and this is one hit you will be reaching out for again and again – in fact, there’s no resin to miss out on this treasure trove of BONGZILLA live nuggets.
Rating: 7/10
Dabbing (LIVE) Rosin In Europe is set for release on March 15th via Heavy Psych Sounds.
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