Fuzz Evil - Smear Merchants (2025) [Hi-Res]

With Smear Merchants, Fuzz Evil delivers a massive, unrelenting wall of sound – one that feels both carefully sculpted and wildly untamed. Expanding to a four-piece has given the band a new level of depth, allowing them to stretch their sonic muscles in ways that feel natural yet daring. There’s an undeniable weight to this record, a density in both tone and atmosphere that grips the listener from the first crushing riff to the final ringing note.

Sonically, Smear Merchants is a heavy blend of stoner metal, sludge rock, and psychedelic doom, fusing dense, fuzz-laden riffs with expansive, atmospheric textures. The DIY approach is evident, but not in a way that suggests limitation. Instead, it grants Smear Merchants a raw, unfiltered energy – where every reverb-soaked lead, every shift between slow-burning tension and full-throttle aggression – feels purposeful. The interplay between Preston Jennings’ expansive ambient textures and the thick, sludgy backbone of the rhythm section creates an almost hypnotic effect, pulling the listener into a swirling, immersive soundscape.

At its core, Smear Merchants thrives on contrasts: towering riffs meet eerie, spacey interludes; the deep grooves pulse forward while jagged, unrestrained vocals cut through with visceral intensity. The album doesn’t just rely on sheer heaviness – it breathes, expands, contracts, and surprises, making every moment feel vital. Fuzz Evil doesn’t just play loud; they play with purpose.

The cover art hits with the same force as the music – huge, trippy, and a little ominous. Hooded figures lurk among stacks of amps, their glowing eyes cutting through the haze like something out of a fever dream. The sun burns impossibly big, its surface stamped with the band’s name like some cosmic prophecy, while a UFO floats in the distance, just to make sure things stay weird. It’s heavy, it’s surreal, and it feels like a perfect match for the fuzz-drenched, hypnotic chaos of Smear Merchants.