They’re about as rudimentary as you get, and much of what you need to know about Arlington, Texas, doom duo (I keep trying to coin the term “doomuo,” but it doesn’t seem to be catching on, fun as it is to say out loud) Stone Machine Electric you can see on the package of their debut self-release, Awash in Feedback. It’s right there on the back of the cardboard sleeve, in big capital letters: “THIS IS A DEMO.”

And indeed it is. A live demo, to boot, and one that will appeal to anyone who recalls tape-trading days of practice room recordings capturing the rawest elements of a band’s sound. Stone Machine Electric offer a half-hour set comprised of five songs, feeling their way through well-trod creative territory and offering bright spots of individuality throughout. Those familiar with the boom in Texas doom – bands like Orthodox Fuzz, Wo Fat and Kin of Ettins being good company to keep – won’t be surprised by much of what guitarist/vocalist Dub and drummer/vocalist Kitchens have to offer on cuts like “Mushroom Cloud” and “Nameless,” grooves inspired by the likes of C.O.C. and Earthride/Spirit Caravan being put to appropriate use, but Stone Machine Electric delve into territory more their own on the extended instrumental centerpiece “Echoes of Garnath,” doing well to add a jammed feel to the heavy-footed riffing.

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In Connecticut for the weekend, which is peaceful but for the specter of homework (yes, homework) looming overhead for tomorrow and Sunday. Tradeoff is I’d rather be on the hook for that sort of thing up here, where there’s actually a chance of getting it done in a timely fashion. Ah, hell. You know how it is.

We cap off another insanely busy week — that seems to be how they’re going lately — with dudely Virginian rockers King Giant, who just today premiered this video for the track “13 to 1.” The song comes off their self-released full-length debut, Southern Darkness, which I’ve been meaning to review for going on three months now. Sad, I know. I’ve kind of had a lot going on. You know how that is too.

I wish you a happy and safe weekend. If you are or will be in the area, King Giant are going to be playing Brooklyn at the end of next month. I’m sure I’ll have more on the show (like a review after I’ve seen it) but it’s a killer bill with The Resurrection Sorrow, Moth Eater and Solace. Here’s the flyer:

Always, always, always read the liner notes. That’s the message to take from Brainticket’s reissue of Last Chapter’s The Living Waters, which was originally released by the label in 1997. Not only by doing so will you find out that the band almost broke up before putting out their debut album, but you’ll learn a valuable life-lesson that could save you time, money and a lot of frustration down the line.

That lesson? Never have Robert Lowe sing on your demo and expect to find someone that good again.

Last Chapter, based in Arlington, TX, did indeed employ the Solitude Aeturnus vocalist for their original four-track outing in 1993, and it would be another three to four years before they realized that no one else would rate and asked him, with the help of Brainticket head and Solitude Aeturnus guitarist John Perez, to come back and sing on what would become The Living Waters. The way drummer Jason Spradlin tells it in the liner notes, Last Chapter almost broke up from the disappointment of trying to find someone to fill those shoes after the demo. Well of course they did! Basically if you’re not calling up Ronnie James Dio circa 1983 and telling him to come on over, Robert Lowe is as good a metal singer as you’re going to find. In the lineup roster, it lists him as “Honored Guest Vocals.” Damn right.

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