Nova Scotia-based six-piece heavy rockers Elektric Mistress will release their new four-songer Chapter 99 EP, on June 17 as the follow-up to their 2019 self-titled debut (review here). That offering, also an EP, had three tracks, and the band was a five-piece at the time, so really on any level you want to examine, there has been growth. That holds true for the material as well, fortunately, and as the sextet — which, yes, is only fun to write because it has the word “sex” in it; I’m forever in sixth grade; bite me — unfurl the comfortably paced, organ-inclusive groove of “Magic Dust,” they seem just to fade out when the jam takes off at about four minutes in, setting a priority for the release that’s affirmed in the subsequent “Radio” (premiering below) where the rolling hook takes unabashed priority. Perhaps indulging a bit of nostalgia lyrically, “Radio” brings both that slower groove and a synth solo in the midsection that the only word I can think of to describe it is “fun” before the guitar joins in the fray and they efficiently make their way back toward the central progression.

It’s tidier than it at first appears, but one might say the same of the 19-minute outing as a whole. I’m not sure which coke-rock band Elektric Mistress are sending up in the song “Cocaine Johnny” — it would be easy enough to name a few — but they’re clearly enjoying the process even if the lyrics aren’t necessarily about feeling like the life of the party or whatever. The closer is the title-track, and it fulfills the shorter-song-int0-longer-song pattern that “Magic Dust” and “Radio Set,” its riffage full with the double-guitar, organ and bass over the drums, setting itself in a shuffling kind of push that’s not too fast, not too slow, but just right for the hook.

I’m not sure what “Chapter 99” actually is, as in, what apparently-lengthy book we’re talking about, but if you can find an argument against the procession as it wraps up the EP of the same name, you’re one up on me. Elektric Mistress — which I just. can’t. spell. right. — carry over from the self-titled an abiding lack of pretense and an awareness of genre and their place in it, but at its core, Chapter 99 is an unassuming self-made, self-released sub-20-minute outing from a band who clearly are in it because they love the sounds they’re making. Is it gonna change the world? Nah. But it’d make for (part of) a righteous live set, and changing someone’s evening for the better is more than enough to reasonably ask.

You can hear “Radio” on the player below, followed by a few words from the band about the track, EP preorders and all that fun kind of stuff, courtesy of the PR wire.

Enjoy:

Elektric Mistress, “Radio” track premiere

The full EP “Chapter 99” is being released on June 17, 2022.

EP pre-order – https://elektricmistress.bandcamp.com​

Digital pre-save – https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/elektricmistress/chapter-99​

“We think any fans who enjoyed the first EP will enjoy our latest release. With the addition of Jason, we have a new layer of sound for fans to experience. ”Radio” is about how music or a song brings back memories of past relationships. It has our most Black Sabbath type riffs, for sure. Riley came up with the main riff on this one.”

Since the last EP, they have added a new guitarist Jason Cantfell, who is the twin brother of current guitarist Kyle Cantfell. The duo leans into their “Twinchronicity”, with mesmerizingly coordinated harmonies, and bolsters their sound with the addition of equipment including an impressive array of guitar pedals, mini megaphones, and synthesizers.

Appealing to the audio nerds out there, the tracks on “Chapter 99” were shoved through the super-rare CLASP system (Closed Loop Analog Signal Processing) at Fang Recordings to capitalize on that old recording sound. They crushed the hell out of that tape to add a unique dimension to their psychedelic sound.

Track Listing:
1. Magic Dust – 4:06
2. Radio – 5:38
3. Cocaine Johnny – 4:24
4. Chapter 99 – 5:47
EP Length: 19:56

EP and Live Band Line Up:
Kyle Cantfell – Guitar
Jason Cantfell – Guitar
Kieran Richardson – Bass
Maxwell Poole: Vox
Riley MacDonald – Keyboards
Valencia Canales: Drums

Elektric Mistress website

Elektric Mistress on Facebook

Elektric Mistress on Instagram

Tags: Canada, Chapter 99, Elektric Mistress, Elektric Mistress Chapter 99, Halifax, Nova Scotia

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 24th, 2022 at 10:02 am and is filed under audiObelisk, Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.