Let It Burn

Review by Jason Hundey Eddie Glass of Fu Manchu fame has put together one of the most sonically aural music obliterations ever put down on tape. Along with Queens of the Stone Age and Eternal Elysium, Nebula is one of the most pleasant surprises in the stoner rock movement. To call them another stoner rock band is an injustice to their versatility and dynamism. Musically superior to Glass' other band, Nebula experiments with different types of sounds, including the raga piece "Raga in the Bloodshot Pyramid." Arguably one of the best white-played ragas, besides the Northwood Improvisers' phenomenal Stargarden, the song offers a refreshing change from the average fuzz-infested rock tune. Fear not fuzz fans, because the guitars are brash, loud, covered in mud, and loaded with crotch-kickin' feedback. The interplay of the drums and bass and the extended guitar jam on the aptly titled "Sonic Titan" is one of several highlights on Let It Burn. There is no dead weight here. This is especially true of the bonus tracks, which include the rawest, most brilliant song on the album, "Devil's Liquid." If you are a fan of the genre, or just Fu Manchu, then put down your bong and Black Sabbath vinyl long enough to go out and find yourself this masterpiece. As a side note, it features some awesome artwork done in the style of Gary Grimshaw. [Originally a six-track EP, Let It Burn was reissued by Relapse in 1999 with two bonus tracks.]