Us Christmas – “Bad Heart Bull” – [Play The Assassin]

Newest album from Appalachian psych/sludge/cowpunk outfit (I guess they call themselves ‘apocalyptic doom blues’), released May of this year. Vox are Melvins/Pere Ubu mania that occasionally breaks out into screaming. Sound alternates between crusty chug (A2) and acidy post-punk that reminds of Amebix’ quieter moments, space-synth and all (instrumental A3). A mix of acoustic and electric strumming, plus a fair amount of 70s soloing, comprises the guitar sound, which is kinda gritty but still of professional quality. Gun Club meets Samothrace maybe? I dunno. A4 goes well with current-mates Royal Baths and Ty Segall, and contains a possible FCC (‘piss’?). A1 and B1 are brief acoustic intros. B4 is experimental: ten minutes of pointless rhythmic clanking. B2 is the relative gem, bringing all of USX’s disparate points of reference together into one novel and cohesive epic of psychedelic dysphoria.On the whole this band, who cite Neil Young and Crazy Horse, Hawkwind, Caustic Resin and Neurosis as influences, can’t decide whether they want to ride the dark garage rock or psychedelic sludge metal train, making the music compatible with just about everything influenced by the electric blues and with a chip on its shoulder.