Guybrush

Introduction :

Members :

Doom Perignon (Henning Solvang) – guitar, lead vocals since 2003,
El Doom (Ole Petter Andreassen) – guitar,vocals,
Angelov Doom (Egil Hegerberg) – bass , keyboards,vocals,
Fast Winston Doom (Halvor Winsnes) – drums

Thulsa Doom is a norwegian stoner rock band from the Duplex Records label. The independent Duplex label was started by relatively small group of people (friends) who played in a relatively large amount of bands. Among these few people are norwegian celebrities like Kristoffer Schau, Egil Hegerberg and Aslag Guttormsgaard. They and others would make up different concept bands that were mostly just jokes at first (Sin Egen Onkel, Stjerten, Kul Ful Driv Gjøn, mm.), then comedic acts with good songs (Bare Egil Band, Gartnerlosjen) to competent and largely respected acts in norwegian rock that still might not be 100% serious about what they do like The Cumshots, Black Debbath and .. of course, Thulsa Doom.

Thulsa Doom, who tried (at least at first) tounge-in-cheek to appeal to slobs with beer guts who like fast cars and porn, is one of the more serious efforts to come out of Duplex. Perhaps because stoner rock has less appeal or because they did it with less humour, it's also lesser known than most other acts from the label who put out more than one album. They have a knack for long titles and their first album from 2001 was "The Seats Are Soft But the Helmet is Way Too Tight". It was followed up by 2003 album "...And Then Take You to a Place Where Jars are Kept" which contained awesome stoner rock songs like "Why Do You Keep On (Watching the Porno) After You Came?".

Their third album is called "Keyboard, Oh Lord! Why Don't We?" and the title is taken from a line in the lyrics of Paul McCartney's duet with Stevie Wonder, "Ebony and Ivory". Keyboard Oh Lord marks a change in the band's stoner sound as they got a little less heavy and a bit more accessible. Also, singer Papa Doom (Jacob Krogvold) got replaced by Doom Perignong (Henning Solvang).

The band members expressed being greatly pleased with where the band was headed at the time. What do I think?


Song for Song Review :

Papa Was opens up with a harmonious goodbye to the old Papa Doom before the heavy guitar riff comes on. It might be more accessible sounding than previous efforts, but a heavier-than-lead production by Ole Petter Andreassen keeps my little woofer bouncing happily on the floor and turns the guitar and bass into a sonic attack. Although I can't really make out the words and I'm always wondering what they're singing, Papa Was is a good track and a solid opener.

It gets better still when Need the Air comes on with a guitar riff that my girlfriend absolutely loves. Now we can really start talking about a departure from their previous sound because while still leaden with that heavy production, Need the Air also works as a pop song and even has some steel guitar and strings thrown in and becomes almost anthemic. Jarle Medhus made a video for the song which you can enjoy. It suffers soundwise from bad quality, but check it out!




Stay O.K. follows and is a frantic, slightly desperate rock song. It also contains chorused vocal harmonies and more delicate parts that might make the hairs on your arms stand up a little. It is definetly another highlight on this album. Raisins and Grapes is bloody brilliant when it comes in, opening with a little jam before that heavy, sludgy guitar sound comes on. Simple yet effective drumming by Fast Winston Doom and a good vocal performance by Doom Perignon makes this a very good track all-round although it can get a bit repetitive in the end. Next up is a cover of Beach Boys' Tears in the Morning which is a gutsy move by a stoner rock band - although of course Thulsa Doom answers to noone but themselves. The cover is quite good and I like it. In the Deep of the City is a poppy yet excellent track with some very cool 70s organ playing. Be Forewarned, the album's second cover, is an awesome version of Pentagram's song. If you're looking for stoner rock on this album, this is where you're probably gonna find it.

By now, we know that this is not really stoner rock anymore and so The Ballad Of Me And Fast Winston Doom may not come as a surprise. It's slow and heavy and while not a favourite, it does send the band in a new direction. At times, it reminds me a bit of Seigmen, another norwegian 90s somewhat dark grunge-act. Mr. Slow ups the pace a bit and is a rock song with great dynamics and once again visits by the thick wall of sound. Vocal harmonies and heavy guitar mixes again with excellent singing by Doom Perignon.

With those words start the epic 9 minutes title track Keyboard, Oh Lord! Why Don't We?. Variations in themes and some excellent guitar wanking help keep it interesting while still heavy enough to sink an aircraft carrier. It drags on a bit at the end, but I still consider it a good closing track.


Review Summary :

Those who expected a real stoner rock album from Thulsa Doom may have gotten slightly disappointed, but if you throw expectations to the wind (or if this is your first encounter with them), you might find that "Keyboard, Oh Lord! Why Don't We?" is a surprisingly fresh sounding album. Drawing on more influences from 70s rock and pop acts like the 60s Beatles and The Byrds allows for more variation and the production is rock solid and tight as a duck's cloaca. Doom Perignon, while not as stony (or "trashy sounding") as Papa Doom, does a good job and I actually prefer him as a singer. In fact, it sounds like they just recently discovered they all could sing because this album has a lot of harmonious and good backing vocal performances from the other members as well.

I've been to a couple of concerts with these guys and while they sound tight on the record, they're every bit as good on stage. This album, their latest, is a solid rock album and Thulsa Doom does not get enough credit. Get it if you like stoner flavoured rock music with the occasional pop influence!


Toretorden's Treasure Trove score : 5/6


favourite songs : Papa Was, Need the Air, Stay O.K., Raisins And Grapes, Tears in the Morning, Be Forewarned, Mr. Slow.

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