Song of the Day: The Valley - Rad Dungeons

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Today's selection, featured on the Midday Show with Cheryl Waters, is "Rad Dungeons" by Seattle band The Valley from their self-released Halloween EP.

The Valley - Rad Dungeons (MP3)

The Valley are wonderfully unpretentious. They embody old school garage and stoner rock perfectly without ever bothering to see if you noticed. They use simple chord progressions and pretty straightforward lyrics and songwriting technique, but they do it really, really well. They write songs they would headbang to themselves, which seems pretty logical, but oftentimes (especially as a small band) is a hard thing to master. Thankfully, for them and us, The Valley have gotten off to an excellent start.

"Rad Dungeons" is a three minute smackdown of a guitar jam. When Dan sings out the last chorus around the 2 minute 20 second mark, it sounds like there are like four or five guitars on the track all shredding their strings off. The song is mainly riff driven, and the riff that resonates through the whole track is a bludgeoning garage rock instant classic. The rest is essentially three minutes of lyrics and guitar solos on top of this excellent start. At one point, a short but sweet hook breaks up the continuity with fifteen seconds of moshworthy power chord madness. But what "Rad Dungeons" doesn't have in the melodious category, it makes up for in badassery. "I'm not looking for you - you're looking for me!!!" Dan screams out over and over again. The context? Who's to say. But when the context of the track is a small, dark, sweaty venue with a handful of righteous bros pounding out this kickass tune on a stage, you'll be belting it out with reckless abandon.

Check out the rest of the Halloween EP by The Valley at their Bandcamp and follow them on Facebook. Be sure to check them out at the Tractor Tavern on New Year's Eve with Supersuckers and Acid Angels.