Heat & Fury
Aagoo/Cardinal Fuzz, 2025
9/10
A San Francisco outfit with a knack for psychedelic and droning rock, these 5 tracks from Night Collectors showcases the quartet’s varied and veteran skills.
“One Thousand Years” opens with much ambience, before John Krausbauer’s swirling guitar and manipulated voice enters the raw, echoing version of rock, and “Take Me Higher” follows with Kaori Suzuki’s percussion adding to the mesmerizing and hazy presence.
The title track occupies the middle spot and is more fierce, as Kevin Guzman’s throbbing bass surrounds Blaine Todd’s radiant guitar tone and Suzuki’s hard hitting drums, while “What Would I Do” dives headfirst into psyche areas via the hypnotic rhythm section and garage rock nods. “Transmissions” exits the listen, and quickly builds into a dense post-punk and fuzzed out EP highlight of a very distinct gospel.
A really unique effort that was started just before the pandemic and then put on hold, Night Collectors embrace distortion, noise, and mystery in a way that makes 5 songs just not enough.
Travels well with: The Conformists- Midwestless; The Poison Arrows- War Regards