By: Alex Nino Gheciu
Toronto’s incognito stoner rock scene reemerged with joints a’ blazing on this very special 4/20 at the El Mocambo. While plenty of trip-worthy acts took the stage this evening, a handful rose higher than the rest.

The Womb

Hot off the heels of their debut six-song EP, the Womb played an early set displaying an unparalleled level of power and ferocity. Often compared to Pantera for their frenetic riffs and unhinged vocals, the band managed to set themselves apart on this EP by adding mind-bending tempo changes to the mix. Songs frequently transitioned from sludgy grooves to mid-tempo thrash, all the while retaining a bottom-heavy, maniacal quality. Drummer Neil Monkhouse gave by far the most technically-dazzling performance of the evening. His standout song was “Kicked Down Force Fed,” a brutal 3 minute lament featuring pounding, double-kick-driven verses; drawn out, half-time choruses; and a Sabbath-style galloping bridge. Vocalist Mike Simpson may have bore an uncanny resemblance to Jack Black, but his snarling guttural scream was more akin to that of Sepultura’s Max Cavalera. Keep an eye out for this quartet; they wield the potential to make a serious gash in North America’s stoner metal market.

The Womb - Kicked Down Force Fed

On The Verge

In bonafide pothead fashion, stoner veterans On the Verge showed up late for their set, forgot to bring a bass, and couldn’t find their drummer. When things finally got rolling, Toronto’s self-proclaimed “hardest rockin’ band” played with more conviction than a self-righteous serial killer. Opening with a slow-burner entitled “The Joint Song,” lead guitarist and singer Dave Adams unleashed a screaming, acid-crazed wah-wah solo while bassist Des Ambrose (transcribing his parts on a spare guitar) held the song together with simple yet infectious riff. On the Verge’s brand new drummer (whose name I couldn’t find out) demonstrated some impressive chops, executing rapid-fire fills and improvising after his ride symbol fell over. The buzz was abruptly killed, however, when the shows’ promoter informed the band they only had time for one more song. Adams, clearly pissed off, responded by introducing the next song as “a fuck you anthem” entitled “I Don’t Care.” The band proceeded to fire off a scathing barnburner with a vicious, lurking backbeat. Towards the end of the song, Adams let loose an extended screeching feedback solo that had the evening’s organizers shaking their heads in dismay.

On The Verge: The Joint Song

Diablo RedSouthern doom rockers Diablo Red seized the stage next with a set that oozed of dirt, sweat and booze. One would be shocked to discover this band hailed from Toronto. Not only were members dressed in leather vests and cowboy boots, but also they playedTexas barroom brawl background music. Nevertheless, these guys knew how to put on hellacious show, eliciting the largest crowd response of the night. Perhaps the key to Diablo Red’s mass appeal was that they sounded like a concoction of everyone’s favorite hard rock band – two parts Sabbath, four parts Black Label Society, and three parts Motorhead. Lead singer Robert Hare even managed to flawlessly emulate Motorhead singer Lemmy Kilmister’s trademark gravelly voice and mutton chops. It was also clear this evening that Hare shared Lemmy’s appetite for inebriation; swigging down bottle after bottle in between songs, it was a mystery how he managed to nail blistering solos and gut-wrenching screams, let alone stand on his own two feet.
Diablo Red - Heathen Sunshine

Electric Magma

Few bands have the wherewithal to keep listeners interested sans a vocalist, but Electric Magma does it without even breaking a sweat. From their very first note, this virtuosic trio entranced the audience with a liquid psychedelic haze that oozed out of the speakers like hot molten lava. Each song seamlessly blended into one another in a majestic cornucopia of brain-cell-busting groove. The band members were almost motionless on stage, their eyes shut as if deep in meditation. What they lacked in stage presence, they made up for in mammoth, clobbering riffs that penetrated deep into the soul. “Snail the Wah” displayed Electric Magma at their finest – all members heavily engrossed in a murky blues lick that took over and dictated the direction of the song. Sure, nothing about this set was terribly original; Electric Magma has clearly been influenced by the likes of Sabbath, Hendrix, and stoner rock forefathers Kyuss. Rather than aiming to reconfigure the rules of music, this band is all about creating stripped down, intoxicating rock n’ roll. The term “stoner rock” may be used pejoratively by most of today’s music critics, but anyone who doesn’t get a contact high from listening to this fuzz-drenched ecstasy clearly isn’t alive.

All images: Mario Lunardo

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