Volcano Kings

'Roadkiller' represents the Rhode Island-based quartet's darkest and starkest arrangements yet. It's hard to imagine a band as insulated as Volcano Kings having much of a radar, even for the pandemic in their music. But at its best, 'Roadkiller' both reflects and resists the zeitgeist via metal-adjacent riffage and a tonal pessimism perfect for any and all doomscrolling. Hot off their full-length 2021 post- and space-rock 180 pivot, 'Lonesome Cybernetic Drifter on Mars (or Lo​-​Fi Morricone​-​esque in Space)', 'Roadkiller' shows the Kings bringing the same Godspeed-style arrangement approach to their classic Tom Waits-esque misadventures through a noirish wonderland. The guitar licks wink equally at Malkmus and Iommi while letting the Kings return to the horrorshow backing band roots in the Providence, RI alt party scene.