It’s been an odd and unpredictable few years for Oklahoma-based act Helen Kelter Skelter (HKS). And yet, it’s an all too familiar story. Tours get scrapped, shows get cancelled, trajectory runs askew, and futures seem bleak (I’m talking about the pandemic, in case you couldn’t read between the lines)… Luckily, it hasn’t stopped these psyched-out Oklahomans from doing what they do best. Crafting stonerish, psychedelic-infused, heavy music made for speeding down the highway or deeply enjoying the trip on your substance of choice.
A decade into their career, HKS is here with their latest EP, a five-song blast of heavy guitars and droning vibes they’ve entitled Chroma Crawl. Over the course of 19 minutes, you’ll be taken on a trip through the sun-scorched Oklahoma desert. This Buffalonian blogger is wondering aloud if there are even deserts in Oklahoma (we only have endless mountains of snow here), but if there isn’t, the blistering riffage that HKS offers is sure to wilt any surrounding foliage. Fans of OG heavy metal stalwarts Black Sabbath; fuzzed-out alt rock like Queens of the Stone Age; psychedelic droning a la The Black Angels; or even the aggressive discordance of METZ are going to find lots to dig in here.
Lead track “Best Friends” starts with a menacing whirl of guitar noise, setting the scene for the rest of the EP. Here you’ll discover the hallmarks of HKS’s sound: deeply groovy rhythms; pounding drumbeats; driving bass guitar; sandy, fuzz-laden guitar riffing; and a mastery of dynamics. At the three minute mark, you’ll realize the song has run the gamut from dark and tormented, to droned out jamming, to a down-to-the-floor quietness – it’s the mark of a band that knows how to get in a room and work together to create something you can truly feel in your gut. Song two, “Ship of Fools,” takes a similar trajectory – whirring and purring before exploding into a velcro-fuzz guitar solo.
“Feel That” plays with hints of cacophony without ever straying into aural unpleasantness – this particular group of musicians knows how to inject twinkly guitar leads into otherwise woofing thickness, giving your ears a nice “break” from the buzzing and unrelenting wall of fuzz. Same goes for the riffy “Sceptre,” the EP’s lead single, which finds HKS at their most noodly. HKS has found a way to squeeze plenty of squiggly guitar theatrics into their fuzzy maelstrom of chords, and it’s a cool juxtaposition next to the constant onslaught of their rhythm work.
As you wander your way through EP closer, “Chill,” you’ll realize you’ve been simultaneously zoned-out and keyed-in for the last 17-or-so minutes. This isn’t an EP meant only for losing yourself – they’re truly combining the best elements of psychedelic rock with a melody-conscious approach. Repeat listens will reward the consumer with new textures, unique rhythms, and a surprising lyrical depth that you didn’t fully appreciate while you were vibing out through your first listen.
Chroma Crawl is out June 16 on Oklahoma-based label Horton Records. You can find the EP on Spotify, Apple Music, Soundcloud, and Bandcamp – be sure to check out lead single, “Sceptre,” via the link below.