siLLy puPPy Sometimes i gotta check out a band simply because i can’t believe a certain style of music is coming from a certain place. Take the HIPPIE DOOM SQUAD for example. This band is known for its take on Southern stoner metal mixed with groove metal, the kind of music you’d most likely expect to emerge from either the American South or given the Kyuss and Queen of the Stone Age similarities, the Palm Desert area of Southern California but neither of those regions would be correct. In fact this band came from the city of Brest in Belarus and formed in 2010. It has so far released two EPs, one split and a compilation.

This second EP titled DARK SIDE OF REALITY does not sound one bit like it came from anywhere in Europe much less the former Iron Curtain mystery nation of Belarus. Not at all. DARK SIDE OF THE REALITY in its over 22 minutes of musical mojo in the form of six songs sounds like it took a whole bunch of Queens of the Stone Age, added a bit of Pantera groove and then sprinkling of Southern metal in the form of Corrosion of Conformity, Down and Alabama Thunder Pussy and then went crazy. And while looking well beyond one’s borders for inspiration is hardly an unusual thing to do, what exactly attracts someone in Eastern Europe to the whole stoner metal / Southern metal / groove metal thing?

Well who knows but what HIPPIE DOOM SQUAD does do is deliver a convincing Southern California sound that could’ve emerged from Palm Springs, Yucca Valley or any of the other locals of everyone’s favorite Josh Homme guitar projects. In fact it’s too convincing. The vocalist sounds like a clearcut replacement for the Queens of the Stoneage only given the distant an imitation band was clearly the closest that he could muster up. In fact i wouldn’t doubt if this band was a cover band because they have absolutely nailed the whole QofSA sound perfectly. Everything about this is classic retro stoner / groove / Southern metal with the classic guitar riffs fueled with fuzz, bass and drum grooves and raspy vocal charm.

Well in the end this is too close to the original sources for me. An excellent example of a Southern metal band with all those hard blues metal riffs that make you think Lynyrd Skynyrd, Allman Brothers and all things classic Southern rock but the punkish delivery system keeps you from totally going there. Very well done with a nice modern production to allow the stoner vibes to truly resonate and decently constructed songs too. The authenticity goes a long ways as well but unfortunately very much in clone territory as the stoner metal tag has so much more to offer than a simply retreading of Kyuss and related projects. Good for what it is and nice tracks that would add some exotic spice to a playlist but not something that will truly blow you away either.