Surf Sabbath — 30 October 2019 on Rocket Shop Radio Hour
Surf Sabbath rode a rare night wave to join host Tom Proctor on ‘Rocket Shop‘, Big Heavy World’s weekly local Vermont music radio hour on 105.9FM The Radiator. When asked by which channel they communicate they cryptically said they can be found on the High Break.
On Wednesday, October 30th, Surf Sabbath washed up from the darkness and into the Big Heavy World’s Rocketshop. All dressed in ominous hooded robes, Surf Sabbath’s Matt on guitar, Todd on the drums, and Kevin on the bass gave a fearless introduction into the world, or shall I say underworld, that is surf-rock. The band draws inspiration from the jarring and aggressive tone of Black Sabbath and infuses it with the nonchalant intensity of surf music. The culmination of heavy metal with a glazing over of surf-flavor is a surprisingly unique pairing of musical genres. “It seemed like there was a void; it had never been done to our knowledge,” says guitarist Matt about the invention of the surf rock genre. But with Surf Sabbath, the void is filled. Their novel combination creates a world where the fun of surf runs parallel with the raucous rebellion found in Black Sabbath’s originals. Enter the band’s first of several covers performed: “Paranoid.”
Surf Sabbath’s “Paranoid” immediately opens with a strong surf-inspired guitar riff, almost as if laying a foundation for the other instruments. Interesting about the guitar in this version was its constant transition from surf riffs to metal riffs. Next came the baseline, resonant and pounding just loud enough to hear over the drums. The entrance of the drums brought along a poignant aggression innate to the Black Sabbath’s original song making the cover just as fast-paced and swift-hitting as the original song.
Their sheer instrumental prowess in addition to their robed presence created a performance that fans of either genre could really thrash to. On performing, Matt mentioned that while the group enjoys performing at shows, he joked that their performances require a sort of “planetary alignment” to occur. However, the band did mention that fans should keep an eye out for their appearance at this year’s Surf Rumble, taking place later this month.
Speaking of their instrumental prowess, Surf Sabbath’s mechanical ability was on full display in their second cover, “Hole in the Sky.” This cover began at what felt like full-throttle, jumping at listeners with a high tempo, creating an effect that the deep soul-striking chords of the guitar are rolling over you. The increased pace of the guitar strums occasionally evolved into what can only be described as a surf-style release of musical energy: a fading from the frantic strumming of moments before into the consistent thunderous drumming. When asked about their history, the band admitted that they had played together for 15 years, and then revealed that it’s because of their long past that they’re able to play the way they do. “It all came together. This allowed us to communicate to each other with our instruments.” guitarist Matt elaborates. “The purpose of surf music is for anyone to digest it. What’s fun about Surf Sabbath is that you might not listen to either genre, so we spoon feed these both to you. You can listen to it anywhere.”
After listening to all 4 of their performed songs, it became evident that the band’s songs are refurbished in their execution, something that the 3 robed musicians took pride in. The skills extended further in the last two performed covers, “Sweet Leaf” and “Wicked World.” I can’t describe either of these songs without mentioning the work of drummer Todd, who truly captured the in-your-face energy of both genres. In Sweet Leaf and Wicked World Todd delivered robust drumming with an exceptional ability to keep fans on their toes waiting for the next solo. The ferocious drumming never dominated the other instruments, but instead emphasized the power behind the guitar and the bass. Surf Sabbath’s performances employed each instrument meticulously enough to demolish the restrictive sound of both genres, signaling an impressive intuition within their craft.
If you’re looking to hop on Surf Sabbath’s hellish wave, then you can find their album Surf Sabbath on their Bandcamp Page. There, you’ll find a link to the groups alter ego band, The High Breaks where you can listen to similarly inspired surf rock music. While the group’s concert dates are mostly up in the air, keep an eye out for them and the High Break at future Arts Riot and the Surf Rumble happening in Burlington soon.
Text by Jay Strek
Photo by James Lockridge.
