Earth Tongue “Dungeon Vision” Review
Written by Beau Croxton
Earth Tongue by Sarah Burton
Earth Tongue’s third LP, Dungeon Vision, is a very satisfying heavy-psych ripper that thrives on scorching fuzz, medieval themes, soaring harmonies, odd time signatures and excellent arrangements.
Earth Tongue has returned with their third album since 2019’s Floating Being. This time, the group is getting medieval with Dungeon Vision, which was produced by garage rock hero, Ty Segall. It’s no wonder Ty took a liking to the band (by having them as support for his tour and producing the LP), because Earth Tongue's sound is perfectly aligned between Black Sabbath-worshipping stoner rock and all the most fuzz-laden garage-psych rock of the past two decades.
While their last album The Great Haunting explored B-movie inspired doomy rock, Dungeon Vision thrives in its rituals, dungeons, and demons with new proggy touches. The band explores some new areas while retaining all the ultra-satisfying elements of their music thus far. If you're into heavy psych or stoner rock– look no further– Earth Tongue has a style that delivers on that thoroughly.
The title track “Dungeon Vision” is a thrasher with pure doom and energy with no abandon- it’s a hell of an opener that it busts the record wide open. Upon entry, there is nothing but Earth Tongue’s signature fuzz, soaring harmonies and quaking rhythms— drummer Ezra SImons thrives on speedy fills and kickass beats. “Demon Cam” is another nasty ripper that speeds off in a similar tempo with hypnotic monotone vocals– The band is consistent with their tight harmonies throughout the record . The back half of the track is highlighted by psychedelic delay vocals and crushing doom sections to get your head banging.
”Body of Water” is a major standout– it has a spellbinding melody that exists somewhere between Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd, or some 100 year old folk song that you’ve sworn you heard before. The band leans into an expert sense of contrast and duality on the tune by alternating between prog-folk acoustic verses and some crushing, distorted choruses– it makes the tune feel absolutely huge.
“Watchtower” feels akin to some old school Fuzz song, with a grimy riff and a menacing stoner metal tempo. It's a bit of a recluse anthem that keeps up with the medieval theme of the record. They sing “Everyone I know is up there in the watchtower/ I am all alone thinking in my cellar” which serves as an allegory while living completely in their visual world of the LP.
“Orbit of a Witch” is a groovy and fuzzy standout that may induce permanent “stank face” as equally as it will move your hips. It’s heavily highlighted by some cranky wah-wah, fuzzy guitar harmonics, and trippy outro vocals. The Goblin-inspired “Symmetry Dripper” serves as a synth-centered escapade to break the record up nicely. It’s a fun experimental segue with distorted bass and warping synths.
“1000 Curses” is a frenzied cut that dominates with brilliant drums, a slick riff, and speedy vocals. The off-kilter rhythms throughout the song are a thrill– the band is very well versed with their sense of tension and release. The odd time signatures whip you back and forth until a propulsive 4/4 section lands as the ultimate headbanging conclusion.
“Silver Eye” is a total ripper with amazing vocal harmonies and colossal riffs, complete with racing drums, screams and high octane drama. There is a brooding, horror-centric creepiness that runs throughout and the bruising outro section is the most heavy metal-sounding riffage on the record. It's a huge banger that’ll surely be a peak moment in their live set.
The album closes as grandly as it opens– “Ritual” is another stunner that thrives on a massive wall of harmonies. This cult-y number was penned when Ty Segall challenged the band to make a totally acapella track. Ultimately, the combined instrumental and harmonic result might be even better than that premise. Crushing stoner riffs and epic drums thrash and collide one last time, until they expertly drop out to highlight dramatic choral vocal sections. Singer Gussie Larkin absolutely soars in her four part harmonies – it's a triumphant close.
Earth Tongue - Dungeon Vision album cover— out now on In the Red Records.
Earth Tongue is a band that stands out in the current wave of fuzzy garage-psych and stoner rock– and Dungeon Vision reinforces the fact that their name should be a more prominent one. This band should be a total hit with fans of Black Sabbath, Sleep, Fuzz, Witch, Pentagram, heavy King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Ty Segall, Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats, Castle Rat, ORB, and anything else remotely similiar.
Pretty much– If you like your rock with the words “psych”, “doom”, “stoner” or “fuzz” attached to it–Earth Tongue will deliver to your tastes tenfold. Their new LP relentlessly delivers these elements in a very satisfying yet fresh way. Their knack for odd time signatures and harmonies makes their take on the genre significantly potent. Dungeon Vision is a very consistent and satisfying barn burner that yields all of that and then some– rock on, Earth Tongue.
Occult Highlights: Silver Eye, Dungeon Vision, 1000 Curses, Orbit of a Witch, Ritual, Body of Water
(… but we recommend you spin the whole thing while head-banging in chainmail)