King Tuff (aka Kyle Thomas) seamlessly blends elements of garage rock, glam rock, and ’70s power pop into an undeniable catchy third album Black Moon Spell. Where the previous two King Tuff releases (King Tuff and Was Dead) had a more lo-fi vibe, the latest is more psychedelic and heavy. A few album highlights include: the fuzz-drenched title track; the pseudo-Southern rock vibe on “Eyes of the Muse”; the throwback guitar jams on “Eddie’s Song”; and the goofy fuzzed-out power pop ode to a metalhead girlfriend, “Headbanger.” Black Moon Spell plays like a well-worn cassette tape mix with a more varied and heavier overall sound that still keeps an underlying pop sensibility. It is easily one of the more satisfying listens this year. – Written by JFelton
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