Bongzilla - Apogee (Relapse Records)
 

Bongzilla - Apogee (Relapse Records)
By Chris Barnes
May 12, 2004

Our friends at Relapse Records have seen fit to re-release this Howling Bull (R.I.P.) classic and make it readily available to the heavy music kids. And dope fiends.

I like Bongzilla for the simple reason that I can totally lose myself in their epic-length aural bludgeonings. Where bands like Los Natas and Colour Haze leave the listener with subtle and dynamic explorations into sound frequency manipulation, Bongzilla are the flip-side of the coin. They’re about as subtle as a bull in a head sho...erm… china shop both in sound and in message. The goal is to incapacitate you with massive explosions of lead-heavy sounds played at the speed of cooling lava. And, all the while, educate you on the wonders of the five-pointed leaf while simultaneously railing against the amazingly Draconian marijuana possession laws in this country. Like it or not, marijuana does have inherent benefits in wasting in AIDS, cancer and other disease states as well as relieving pain and pressure for those suffering from Glaucoma. And I’ve never heard of someone smoking a joint and beating the shit out of the wife and kids. But the wine & spirit industry is alive and well (and offers an attractive tax base) while pot continues to get demonized and people rot in jail under ‘zero tolerance’ laws. Sad, really. * steps off soap box *

Aside from the elixir of sound, Bongzilla know the power of the repetitive riff… one that resurfaces again and again in a song as the band phase in and out of monolithic jams. I can listen to “Grim Reefer” all day, because it sucks me in – crushing riff, head-nodding jam, back to crushing riff played with immense helpings of groove. It’s not so much the Bongzilla songs as the Bongzilla experience – the four live tracks attest to their power in a live setting as well.

Great to see Relapse take this out of the pasture and get it back on the market.


Purchase Apogee at the Hellride Music Superstore

Download a MP3 of Salvation

"Grim Reefer" is one of the all time greatest heavy songs ever.

I feel that. Dawg.

Me too.

A friend of mine is so obsessed with "Grim Reefer" that he literally listens to it all day - an 8 hour work shift with it on infinite repeat.

Whoa! He lives! What's up Nick??

I love the song and all but that might be considered a bit excessive. If added to the first two songs from Gateway it's probably alright.

Hey Chris! Figured a bongzilla thread would be a good place to start posting...

BONGZILLA!

Apogee is my favorite 'zilla release. What's different from the original Howling Bull issue? Load bongs not guns.

It's the same deal - same bonus live tracks.

Cool.