Here, we have the third full-length from what has to be the most unfortunately named band in the history of music. In opposition to all the nomenclature tomfoolery—beyond the moniker and album title, its vocalist/guitarist is known as Lord Phallus (a.k.a. Rob Crow from Pinback)—is the fact that Necronomidonkeykongmicon excellently stirs many of metal’s subgenres, including stoner, drone, ’80s/hair and Torche’s melodic “doom pop,” into an enormous-sounding, comedic-demonic chamber pot.
“Something Haunted,” “Bothered” and “Stewpot’s Package” wrangle massive Mascis/Steve Brooks barre chords into sonorous, sing-a-long riffs, whereas the injection of accented angularity on “Youth Pastoral” and “The Under” deliver a head-bobbing darkness. There are a couple moments of slow-footed languidness and sequences that fall out of place on tracks like “Your Watch” and “Struth,” but those are few and far between—and still a shit-ton less embarrassing than their name.
—Kevin Stewart-Panko
