The Kings of Frog Island - II
Review by John Pegoraro (StonerRock.com)
Elektrohasch Records
Release date: 2008


Apparently there's more to The Kings of Frog Island than just a ridiculous name. II,
the accurately titled second album, is purported to be part of a
trilogy. Of what I'm not sure, but suffice it to say, it's definitely
going to be better than the Star Wars prequels.

It's also a step up from The Kings of Frog Island,
the band's debut. Considering how good that album was, that's no small
feat. After the introductory “The Last Train,” which has some sort of
talky nonsense about service to Frog Island being canceled and the last
train to Satansville departing at 23:58, the show begins with
“Hallucination,” a shaggy-haired, psychedelic garage rocker. The next
track, “Welcome to the Void,” is reminiscent of Josiah,
singer/guitarist Mat Bethancourt's other, soon-to-be-defunct group.
It's lock-step groove, thick distortion, and frantic, emotional soloing
make it another highlight in an album full of them.

That's the best part about II
- you can pick any track at random and dig right in. Whether it's the
swaggering “Joanne Marie,” “Ride a Black Horse” and its swampy slide
guitar, the QOTSA-influenced “Satanica” and “The Witching Hour,” or the
psychedelic free-for-all that is "Amphibia Rising," you're guaranteed
to a healthy dose of classic, no bullshit rock n roll. The final
chapter to the Kings of Frog Island saga can't come soon enough.