AMG Review of Double EP

Eduardo Rivadavia
All Music Guide

This split release featuring California's Nebula and Sweden's Lowrider harks back to the olden days of two-sided vinyl in every conceivable way, matching up two powerful exponents of the late-'90s stoner rock movement, who themselves probably wish the compact disk would just go away, prompting a return of 12" black wax. Having recently splintered from parent group Fu Manchu, the members of Nebula were just starting to stake their own sonic territory at this time, offering a set of crunchy, if slightly lazy-sounding, hard rock for this release. As for Lowrider, the hopelessly Kyuss-obsessed Swedes are also captured in fine form here, honing the sound that would make their subsequent debut such a satisfying, if hopelessly derivative, record. Brought together by the enterprising Meteor City label for the benefit (and extended buzz) of potheads everywhere, each group submitted four tracks to this double EP, all of which offer few stylistic surprises, but deliver superb "yields" of crushing power chords and psychedelic, head-nodding grooves.