BIOGRAPHY(by Ed Rivadavia)
The Atomic Bitchwax originated as a side project of Monster Magnet lead guitarist Ed Mundell, ex-Godspeed bassist/vocalist Chris Kosnik, and drummer Keith Ackerman. All three of them were by then veterans of the thriving New Jersey stoner rock scene, and, after almost seven years of jamming in their spare time, the trio finally found time to record and release their self-titled debut album in the summer of 1999. Specializing in high-octane, '70s-based hard rock infused with stabs of space rock and psychedelia, and characterized by Mundell's explosive, Tommy Bolin-inspired guitar heroics, Bitchwax's debut stunned retro-rock fans with its unexpected brilliance; but their independent label, MIA, suddenly went out of business barely a year later. Thankfully, the group was instantly snapped up by Tee Pee Records, but their 2000 sophomore effort, Atomic Bitchwax II, was clearly rushed, its songs underwhelmingly second-rate, and the media-shy Mundell struggled to come to terms with his more prominent status as star of the group. In early 2002, The Atomic Bitchwax issued their third album for a third label (Meteor City), the also disappointing Spit Blood, after which they seemed to lose focus as Mundell retreated to his more comfortable, hired-gun role with Monster Magnet. Workaholic Kosnik soon started a new band named Black NASA. But he and Ackerman also resurrected Bitchwax, this time out with Finn Ryan (ex of the space-stoner act Core) on guitar. III appeared through Meteor City in June 2005.
REVIEW
(by Johnny Loftus)
The Atomic Bitchwax of the past usually unspooled in a thick and hoary stoner rock/jam band format, and occasionally featured vocals. That was fine. It was great actually, since the trio was so adept at constructing bottom-feeding grooves. But three years after Spit Blood, the band has returned with shifts in both lineup and focus. III is still stoner rock, and it doesn't experiment very much with that formula. But the replacement of the departed Ed Mundell with ex-Core guitarist/vocalist Finn Ryan (Chris Kosnik (bassist/vocalist), and Keith Ackerman (drums) remain) brings a different feel to the guitar work, and the reconfigured Bitchwax trio also includes vocals on almost every track. The lyrics aren't anything special — life's too short, one night stands, the boiling California sun, getting older, that sort of thing — but Kosnik and Ryan are quite capable, and their vocals give the songs needed structure. "Maybe I'm a Leo" and "You Can't Win" lock into an economic but very powerful strut, while "You Oughta Know" uses its lyrical parts to set up some terrifically nimble tempo changes. Ryan lets loose some great lead guitar peals on "Dark Chi," and a cowbell soon joins the fray; "If I Had a Gun" is one of the album's most complete songs, driven forward by a breezy lead section and making use of dynamic vocal harmonies. Atomic Bitchwax might have gone a little more raw at points on III; while the playing is spectacular throughout, it has a tendency to sound a little sterile. In other words, it can be difficult to keep stoner rock interesting without the songwriting depth of someone like Queens of the Stone Age's Josh Homme. But fans of Core will be happy with the outlet for Ryan, and veteran Bitchwax listeners will love the marriage of psych and swagger guitar with a more melodic ear.
CREDITS
Keith Ackerman Drums
Chris Kosnik Bass, Vocals
Finn Ryan Guitar, Vocals
TRACKS
1 The Destroyer 2:53
2 You Oughta Know 4:05
3 You Can't Win 4:18
4 Dark Chi 4:29
5 Maybe I'm a Leo (Deep Purple) 4:13
6 Force Field 2:15
7 Going Guido 4:21
8 The Passenger 4:07
9 If I Had a Gun 4:08
10 Half as Much 3:54
all tracks by Atomic Bitchwax, except track 5
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