Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats – Mind Control (Rise Above)

Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats – Mind Control (Rise Above)

Whenever a band chooses to resurrect a non-contemporary style of music and wear it as a mantle, their success invariably depends on one thing: authenticity. Some bands throw on bell-bottoms and reek of bullshit before you even hear a note. Others just have it. Uncle Acid certainly look to the past without shame, but they do it quietly, focusing on the art rather than the outfits. You never stop to question whether the songs are actually old, because they reproduce the spirit just as well as the signifiers. The songs are solid gold to boot, blending the spooky side of early Black Sabbath with a dose of brown-acid psychedelia. Someone with too much time on their hands could probably write a thesis on what it takes to transcend imitation and arrive as a fully formed tribute to the past, but frankly, who cares? We hear sweet riffs and we nod along. Nothing else matters. If retro-horror maestro Ti West ever decides to make a prequel to The House Of The Devil , he needs these guys on the soundtrack. In the meantime, we get Mind Control all to ourselves. –Aaron [LISTEN]