Obnox - Murder Radio - New LP
After a mind-boggling seven LPs and nine EPs in six years, you’d be forgiven for thinking that you could safely ignore OBNOX’s newest full-length opus Murder Radio. You’d be wrong. Dead wrong. Coming hot on the heels of 2017’s other ‘Nox platter (Niggative Approach courtesy of 12XU), Murder Radio is another deep dive into the humid underground lair that Obnox (aka LAMONT "BIM" THOMAS) calls home. Along with the usual stacked roster of utility players, Thomas is joined on Murder Radio by steady new drummer STEVE MEHLMAN (PERE UBU) and the divebombing, corkscrewing guitar of CHUCK CIESLIK. Murder Radio finds Obnox pressing their foot down on the metaphorical gas pedal for another trip around the turntable. While kaleidoscopic cuts like “Movimiento” and “The Movement” are an attempt to combine curb-level justice with radical politics, “Woe Is Me” finds Thomas gifting doubters and naysayers a kiss-off to hum to themselves as he leaves them in the dust. “I Hate Everything” is yet another stellar example of Thomas’ by-now patented soaring psych-rock gems while “Enter The Hater” focuses the fuzz into a punk attack. Side-closer “Bangaar” comes riding in on a classic hip-hop clip and sounds like a perfect combo of Eric B & Rakim, The Beastie Boys and Stereolab. It wouldn’t be an Obnox record without an ode to the Great Green God in the Ground and Murder Radio doesn’t disappoint—Side Two opener “Sun Doobie” will stone you until you become a believer. “Deep” is exactly that, so strap on your miner’s helmet and your finest spelunking gear . “Boy, you’re in deep…” Thomas drawls thru the smoke. Is that the bong or is the gas leaking? Whatever—you can get high off the kind of ‘noxious fumes belched forth from sizzling stacks of Murder Radio wax. “Mogul Chokehold” comes correct with another strangely addicting brew of pummeling rhythms and endlessly phased and stacked guitar licks. If this is the new psychedelia, then maybe the streets finally have a chance. Final cut “Cheers” isn’t an ode to that place where everyone knows your name, but it is a syrup-thick groove bomb full of weapons-grade guitar-squall perfect for smashing glasses together. Fans of Puffy Areolas (a group Thomas thumped tubs for) will rejoice. The rest of you will be happy as a pig in shit. Obnox is inclusive like that. !
"I can only hope there’s more respect from the old guard of garage-rock headed his way. Here’s hoping we can give this one enough of a proper listen before Obnox drops something new, which of course is a fine problem to have." - YellowGreenRed
"All 10 of the songs are the angry, intense rock that you could expect from the prolific musician, who has performed in bands Puffy Areolas, V-3, Bassholes and This Moment In Black History." - Cleveland.Com
"Obnox has an intense sound that comes from the soul and heads straight for the senses."-Robert Duguay, WNPT
"From first heavy-hitting track “Movimiento”, through no holds barred honest track “I Hate Everything”, all the way to final track “Cheers”, you might feel like your speakers will crash around you in a cacophony of sound, simultaneously allowing you a sense of freedom that only OBNOX’s music can." - Meredith Schneider, Imperfect Fifth
