Hong Faux hail from Stockholm, Sweden although you would be forgiven for thinking that the blood of America runs through their veins. Despite failing to Google any info regarding the band name I discovered the band only formed last year and that this three track EP released in November 2010 (Bad Boar Music / X5 Music Group) is but a taster for those inclined towards the many travelled desert/stoner path of rockdom albeit with a sojourn to the land of grunge.

The band themselves exclaim "Old school super sludgy riffology with blues wailin vox" and who am I to argue with such sentiment?

It simply goes to show that preconceptions are futile when alluding to band names and song titles so with some trepidation did I enter the first track 'Bad City Blues' which surprised me by opening with a bass line Bigelf stole from Sabbath as the moment (slowly) exploded in true stoner style awash with Kyuss-isms aplenty and a groove that already has me reaching for my Rizla packet. 

All the colours are present man with more than apt vocals ...and exhale.

The second track 'Blade' transports the listener to the early nineties with an up-tempo cool rhythm but it has to be said somewhat derivative although effective riffage; "a place for the bullet, a place for the soul, a place for the rockets, a place to call home", such a heady mantra befitting such a decade with a chorus to match such cerebral musings. Hey man this is good stuff despite the familiarity!

The closing track 'Present Tense-less' is another up-tempo rocker that surely shakes the foundations of any gig but to this aged rocker the influence of Stone Temple Pilots is a little too apparent and with sudden recall I ponder the days when even STP were accused of being plagiarists...and were none the worse for such accusations.

All in all a solid EP that demands repeated listens. Ones to watch for sure.

http://hongfaux.wordpress.com/