Formed in 2013, THE BLACK FURS are the very definition of a CULT band. Hailing from Argentina, the power trio may residually reside in the same stoner doom scene that has given us such heavyweights as FULANNO, MESPHISTOFELES, SAHARA, THE CROOKED WHISPERS, SERPENT COBRA, and EN LA NIEBLA - all bands within the orbit of HELTER SKELTER now, of course - but THE BLACK FURS dub their sonic style "Death Blues," and for good reason: often doomy and most definitely stoned, sure, but there's a grand helping of garage rock gurgling within their soupy cauldron. Think more Nebula or MC5 rather than Electric Wizard or Sleep, but of course with that uniquely Argentinian twist.
Originally released in 2019, Stereophonic Freak Out Vol.1 was THE BLACK FURS' second album - a decidedly darker, more traditionally stoner-doomed affair. Just three years prior, they'd released their Doomed Blues debut full-length, which showed their true garage-rockin' side to its fullest, but the interim years - as well as the handful of short-lengths - must've been some hard ones, as what emerged on Stereophonic Freak Out Vol. 1 really, truly encapsulated their self-appointed "Death Blues" style: everything rumbled heavier than before, the doom got more DOOMED, songs stretched to much-more-STONED lengths, and the blues was palpable. Nevertheless, if this was THE BLACK FURS at their most conventionally stoner doom, then it still possessed the charisma and charm to elevate the band above a crowded scene.
HELTER SKELTER is bringing THE BLACK FURS' back catalog to a wider scale with a full reissue program, all in anticipation of the band's third album, which should see release in 2024.
