20 Watt Tombstone are something different, new. They call this sound Death Blues, and as you can imagine, it is a wild mixture of several sounds and styles, all of which come through clearly and help to make this a unique blend of badass tones. Swaying through Doom and Stoner while carrying a Blues riff, they create a sound with hints of the Midwest and Appalachia fused with early British Metal. It’s like hearing Black Sabbath filtered through Stevie Ray Vaughn and Kyuss. That doesn’t cover everything you hear, but it does at least get your mind ready for some of the different textures and tones your brain will have to process. If this does not pique your interest, run through the album for yourself and see what I mean.

https://20watttombstone.bandcamp.com/

Band Members:

  • Tom Jordan – Guitar/Vocals
  • Mitch Ostrowski – Drums/Vocals

October 20, 2023

Tracklist:

  1. Prophet Man
  2. Chosen Few
  3. Bomb That Saved The Day
  4. Black Top Sorrow
  5. Midnight Train To Memphis
  6. Just Got Paid
  7. Magnolia

First off, there is an intensity to this album that is a little beyond the typical Stoner or Doom Metal. Tempos are ramped up just a bit and the guitar work often out-performs those other genres. “Prophet Man” is a perfect example, showing a heavier-than-usual tempo while keeping the tone in line with established norms of some of the similar genres. While not entirely brand new, this is an interesting new fusion.

Lyrically, the album is all over the place. There are themes of love, loss, religious undertones, and social issues, giving this a more personal feel. This is reflected in the choice of the two cover songs on the record; “Midnight Train To Memphis (Chris Stapleton)” and “Just Got Paid (ZZ Top).” Both songs seem to bring out a different influence that made this record become a reality. Even the way they covered the songs, close to the original but in their own tuning, gives more credence to how 20 Watt Tombstone approaches both writing and recording their music.

Whether playing a cover or an original composition, they have a signature sound that permeates the entire album. There is a comforting consistency. There are no big surprises, no chaos to try and shake you up, just solid songs that let your brain settle into a groove and relax. I found myself putting this on and going about my daily routine, letting it play in the background. I have to say, “Magnolia” really worked its’ way into my brain and took up residence. There is a killer groove to the riff that makes me quite happy. The guitars are well-paced and the rhythm is soothing.

20 Watt Tombstone has a cool sound; there is not a whole lot out there like this. I appreciate that this does not fit into any single category, bringing in influences from all over the musical spectrum. Having grown up with ZZ Top, and being a big fan of their earlier works, I’m happy to hear them cover a song from my favorite era of their discography. Overall, I’m quite happy with everything I heard here.

MZ Ratings:

Musicianship:

  •             Guitars – 9
  •             Rhythms – 9
  •             Vocals – 8
  • Songwriting – 8
  • Production – 8

Overall – 8.40